Opinion / Columnist
The Herald and dangerous mobcraft of tribalism
13 Sep 2016 at 11:24hrs | Views
If you had not seen it, here it is, The Herald's 'scoop' about uMthwakazi!: "NO PLACE FOR THIS IN OUR FOOTBALL … Shameless tribalist spoils Bosso party!" The formatting of the title 'story' is exactly as per the online version of the publication.
And that 'story' was run by The Herald today, 13 September, not yesterday!
We are entitled to ask: Where was the story on Monday morning if the picture was taken by The Herald's own photographer, Paul Mundandi, and the picture is this important to run on the country's largest daily? And how come The Chronicle, the publication closest to the 'story' didn't run it?
But is this a factual or a photoshopped picture? Anyway, either way it doesn't matter. What now matters are The Herald and their photographer's motives. More about that in a second.
But haven't we been here before, Mthwakazi, but in a more brazen way than this … in 1984?
"Hit them Hard!", screamed Tommy Sithole's, The Sunday Mail in 1984? Or was it the Herald … as it egged Gukurahundi to intensify the killing of Mthwakazians - then collectivised as 'dissidents' for their purpose! The stage was then set for a Gukurahundi brigadier to dangle a hapless and helpless baby in Zhombe as a demonstration of how worthless and how worth nothing the lives of Mthwakazians were to the new Mthwakazi-beating killing machine called Gukurahundi.
The rest - as they have sometimes forgotten to remind each other - is NOT history!
Of all the things that were there to photograph on Sunday as the Highlanders-Dynamos game in Bulawayo, and of all photographers who were there to photograph something, Paul Mundandi - and nobody else - could only see that alleged Highlanders 'fan', and that 'fan' alone, holding the alleged 'tribalist' placard?
We are in desperate political season, Mthwakazi! Zanu-PF's opening chapter in 1980 was a disaster, and like opening chapter, Zanu-PF closing chapter is another unfolding disaster. In desperation and fright, Zanu-PF is in its element. It is the Master of the Universe of the Mutilated Truth, and its tricks belong in the Underworld of Political Sorcery where Shame has been permanently banished. And there, The Herald is Zanu-PF's speaksperson and advocate, through and through!
Let us break it down.
Why is that person holding that placard a Highlanders 'fan'?
Which tribe does that 'fan' belong to - could he well have also been Shona?
Is that 'fan' a plant which only, and only Paul Mundandi, would see, and saw?
At what stage - what minute - of the game was that picture taken? That mobster and rather dubious fellow - who calls himself Pastor Mawarire - had tried to incite people to do something on the 36th minute of the match, was this action by this 'fan' (plant) designed to trigger that?
The questions are many …
The Herald can know in no time who that person is - why has The Herald not sought to find out who that person is discreetly and through normal channels than seek to impose a dangerous narrative that may after all turn out to be false?
So The Herald is trying to ignite a tribal war between the Shona and uMthwakazi today - really?
Zimbabweists - which, read Gukurahundists and Shonaists - must be celebrating tonight, then! How can't they, they hold the keys to Zimbabwe's armoury!
Whether or not provoking war or a tribal unrest of sorts was The Herald's aim, makes no difference to the outcome now. We are outraged! The Herald is simply acting as itself - irresponsible, dishonourable, and shameful! It is not the alleged 'fan' who must be condemned by ALL, but The Herald!
And who is Zimbabwe's Minister of Propaganda? He must FIRE this Paul Mundandi and his Editor IMMEDIATELY as two dangerous individuals who can set off a tribal war they will be sorry to have started. And why has Highlanders FC and all the other football clubs not condemned this brazen attempt to turn a football ground and a football team into a battleground for shadowy genocidal agendas?
Or is The Herald seeking to have the arms of State unleash 'revenge' on Mthwakazians for past events at Barbourfields stadium - events that have pitted Highlanders FC supporters and Dynamos FC supporters? Have Dynamos fans themselves been that saintly and magnanimous to Highlanders fans in games played at Rufaro and other stadia in Harare?
But what of the wider politics at the politically pointed end of The Herald's pen?
We can't but try and find patterns and make extrapolations, after all, The Herald and Zanu-PF are masters of deception.
First, let's look at #ThisFlag and #Tajamuka! The Herald and Zanu-PF will want to claim that those two have effectively been neutralized - something which would be very much welcome. But that is not the point here. Going forward, and through this dangerous stratagems, the point would be to divide those groups - those mobs - by reconfiguring the struggle not as a struggle to remove Mugabe and Zanu-PF from power, but as a 'new' and greater struggle of the Shona against a resurgent uMthwakazi bent on 'annihilating' the Shona. If true, it is as criminal as would shame even a Mafia outfit!
Even if it is a deception, how about if the intended deception actually actuated as a tribal war?
And we live in times when what can spark a war in this country is anything as innocuous as two women fighting over a needle and thread! These are simply not times for these sorts of games from The Herald.
And there is another political echo - a very concerning one for powers that be despite the outward pretence of unconcern. Against all machinations last year to sabotage future celebrations, last week uMthwakazi held its annual uMgubho Celebrations, celebrations that mark the death of uMthwakazi founding father, King Mzilikazi Khumalo.
Are we not to see in these machinations by The Herald to pull the Shona into a tribal laager as an alleged buffer against a rising Mthwakazi through the use of falsehoods and deliberately constructed triggers?
The Herald is playing with fire inside a petrol tank!
Winston Churchill once said, and Winston Churchill was a Navy Sea Lord: "The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events".
Gah, gah, gah …. Zimbabweists break into a guffaw! How could this ever be true of Zanoids and Zimbabweists in Zimbabwe; they are in control, the Grand Plan has worked like clockwork! But let us see who will still be standing, laughing, at the end of ugly things and ghastly scenes! For they always are during such situations!
Someone has to be responsible or take responsibility. Where is Government? Or are some people in the corridors of power now seeking to orchestrate a breakdown of law and order controlled by them?
Will the real Government now stand up?
And as for the so-called opposition of democracy and moral and ethical capital, find a friend to see you break into a mournful laugh!
------------------
Vuli Moyo <vuli.moyo@gmx.com
And that 'story' was run by The Herald today, 13 September, not yesterday!
We are entitled to ask: Where was the story on Monday morning if the picture was taken by The Herald's own photographer, Paul Mundandi, and the picture is this important to run on the country's largest daily? And how come The Chronicle, the publication closest to the 'story' didn't run it?
But is this a factual or a photoshopped picture? Anyway, either way it doesn't matter. What now matters are The Herald and their photographer's motives. More about that in a second.
But haven't we been here before, Mthwakazi, but in a more brazen way than this … in 1984?
"Hit them Hard!", screamed Tommy Sithole's, The Sunday Mail in 1984? Or was it the Herald … as it egged Gukurahundi to intensify the killing of Mthwakazians - then collectivised as 'dissidents' for their purpose! The stage was then set for a Gukurahundi brigadier to dangle a hapless and helpless baby in Zhombe as a demonstration of how worthless and how worth nothing the lives of Mthwakazians were to the new Mthwakazi-beating killing machine called Gukurahundi.
The rest - as they have sometimes forgotten to remind each other - is NOT history!
Of all the things that were there to photograph on Sunday as the Highlanders-Dynamos game in Bulawayo, and of all photographers who were there to photograph something, Paul Mundandi - and nobody else - could only see that alleged Highlanders 'fan', and that 'fan' alone, holding the alleged 'tribalist' placard?
We are in desperate political season, Mthwakazi! Zanu-PF's opening chapter in 1980 was a disaster, and like opening chapter, Zanu-PF closing chapter is another unfolding disaster. In desperation and fright, Zanu-PF is in its element. It is the Master of the Universe of the Mutilated Truth, and its tricks belong in the Underworld of Political Sorcery where Shame has been permanently banished. And there, The Herald is Zanu-PF's speaksperson and advocate, through and through!
Let us break it down.
Why is that person holding that placard a Highlanders 'fan'?
Which tribe does that 'fan' belong to - could he well have also been Shona?
Is that 'fan' a plant which only, and only Paul Mundandi, would see, and saw?
At what stage - what minute - of the game was that picture taken? That mobster and rather dubious fellow - who calls himself Pastor Mawarire - had tried to incite people to do something on the 36th minute of the match, was this action by this 'fan' (plant) designed to trigger that?
The questions are many …
The Herald can know in no time who that person is - why has The Herald not sought to find out who that person is discreetly and through normal channels than seek to impose a dangerous narrative that may after all turn out to be false?
So The Herald is trying to ignite a tribal war between the Shona and uMthwakazi today - really?
Zimbabweists - which, read Gukurahundists and Shonaists - must be celebrating tonight, then! How can't they, they hold the keys to Zimbabwe's armoury!
Whether or not provoking war or a tribal unrest of sorts was The Herald's aim, makes no difference to the outcome now. We are outraged! The Herald is simply acting as itself - irresponsible, dishonourable, and shameful! It is not the alleged 'fan' who must be condemned by ALL, but The Herald!
And who is Zimbabwe's Minister of Propaganda? He must FIRE this Paul Mundandi and his Editor IMMEDIATELY as two dangerous individuals who can set off a tribal war they will be sorry to have started. And why has Highlanders FC and all the other football clubs not condemned this brazen attempt to turn a football ground and a football team into a battleground for shadowy genocidal agendas?
Or is The Herald seeking to have the arms of State unleash 'revenge' on Mthwakazians for past events at Barbourfields stadium - events that have pitted Highlanders FC supporters and Dynamos FC supporters? Have Dynamos fans themselves been that saintly and magnanimous to Highlanders fans in games played at Rufaro and other stadia in Harare?
But what of the wider politics at the politically pointed end of The Herald's pen?
We can't but try and find patterns and make extrapolations, after all, The Herald and Zanu-PF are masters of deception.
First, let's look at #ThisFlag and #Tajamuka! The Herald and Zanu-PF will want to claim that those two have effectively been neutralized - something which would be very much welcome. But that is not the point here. Going forward, and through this dangerous stratagems, the point would be to divide those groups - those mobs - by reconfiguring the struggle not as a struggle to remove Mugabe and Zanu-PF from power, but as a 'new' and greater struggle of the Shona against a resurgent uMthwakazi bent on 'annihilating' the Shona. If true, it is as criminal as would shame even a Mafia outfit!
Even if it is a deception, how about if the intended deception actually actuated as a tribal war?
And we live in times when what can spark a war in this country is anything as innocuous as two women fighting over a needle and thread! These are simply not times for these sorts of games from The Herald.
And there is another political echo - a very concerning one for powers that be despite the outward pretence of unconcern. Against all machinations last year to sabotage future celebrations, last week uMthwakazi held its annual uMgubho Celebrations, celebrations that mark the death of uMthwakazi founding father, King Mzilikazi Khumalo.
Are we not to see in these machinations by The Herald to pull the Shona into a tribal laager as an alleged buffer against a rising Mthwakazi through the use of falsehoods and deliberately constructed triggers?
The Herald is playing with fire inside a petrol tank!
Winston Churchill once said, and Winston Churchill was a Navy Sea Lord: "The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events".
Gah, gah, gah …. Zimbabweists break into a guffaw! How could this ever be true of Zanoids and Zimbabweists in Zimbabwe; they are in control, the Grand Plan has worked like clockwork! But let us see who will still be standing, laughing, at the end of ugly things and ghastly scenes! For they always are during such situations!
Someone has to be responsible or take responsibility. Where is Government? Or are some people in the corridors of power now seeking to orchestrate a breakdown of law and order controlled by them?
Will the real Government now stand up?
And as for the so-called opposition of democracy and moral and ethical capital, find a friend to see you break into a mournful laugh!
------------------
Vuli Moyo <vuli.moyo@gmx.com
Source - Xoxani Ngxoxo
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
