Opinion / Columnist
Let's all protect brand Zanu-PF, Cdes
26 Oct 2016 at 21:16hrs | Views
Dear Cabinet and Politburo members
COMRADES, I am unable to fully address you this week, as you are all aware that I am away for yet another important engagement.
I should make it very clear Cdes that I am quite disappointed by the continued barrage of highly damaging media reports about the purported corruption involving Cde Jonah, our workhorse, without whom — like I pointed out last week — the party would not be where it is today.
What is more saddening in that most of these reports are appearing in the newspapers that we own as the party and government. Surely, this is expected of the private and foreign media, not our own newspapers…the people's newspapers.
They cannot be seen to be part of the broader agenda to damage the ZANU-PF brand beyond repair. This is a brand like no other, so this has to stop forthwith or else I will be forced to take drastic action!
Meanwhile, I am really saddened by the passing on of Cde Cephas.
We walked together the long road right from the time some of us launched our political careers in earnest from his house in Highfield, more than half a century ago until his recent retirement.
Although we differed here and there, just like any other normal human beings, I don't think there is any iota of truth in claims that he was against the idea of being buried at the National Heroes Acre where other nationalists are resting. There is certainly no truth in that.
Anyway, as Cde Saviour rightly pointed out, Cde Cephas belonged to the party and Zimbabwe so it is for the Politburo, not his family, to make such decisions and Politburo decisions are sacred and therefore cannot be opposed.
This is something that you Cdes should tell your family members while you are still live… that when your time to go for your heavenly reward comes, it is the party that makes all the important decisions.
Kindest Regards
Yours Sincerely
ME
… AND CZ'S NOTEBOOK
History
Yesterday was really a sad day in history. It was a day that we joined our blood brothers and sisters in Mozambique to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of president Samora Machel in a curious air crash that took place on October 19, 1986. This was indeed a very black day for the African continent.
There is no question about this.
While still in this commemorative mood, Dr CZ is also thinking about how it could also be very good to commemorate the death of an estimated 30 000-plus people that our super hero Cde Samora "heroically" killed extra-judicially as well as through his Stalinists "re-education" camps when he realised the importance of consolidating his stranglehold on sweet power.
While our nationalists were busy making sure that ZANU dissidents like Rugare Gumbo, Dzinashe Machingura, Henry Hamadziripi and others were not summarily executed by insisting that they be handed over to Samora for safe-keeping, ironically Samora himself was busy rounding up and killing (notwithstanding repeated assurances made to Nyerere and Kaunda that he would not do such a dastardly thing) most founding FRELIMO members who posed a threat to his power-grab.
Imagine our nationalists in 1980 rounding up all those who where "on the wrong side of history" like Joshua Nkomo, Ndabaningi Sithole, James Chikerema, Chirau, Ndiweni et al and sending them to early graves after show trials? That was hero (and Statesman!) Samora for you!
The only "crime" that Reverend Uriah Simango, his wife Celina, Paulo Gumane and Adelino Gwambe, Father Mateus Gwengere, Joana Simeao among others, committed was (foolishly) trying to make Mozambique a multi-party democracy by forming a political party in readiness to participate in multi-party elections what they (wrongly) expected to usher majority rule any time from 1974.
The hallmark of every show trial was "public confession". Even if Adolf Hitler or Osama Bin Laden had been favoured with a chance to make confessions, surely extracting a 20-page confession from any one of them would have been near impossible… a fit only hero Samora achieved!
Our mealy-mouthed approach to issues as grave as this could be the reason why Africa spawns one bloodthirsty dictator after another. This see-no-evil, hear-no-evil and say-no-evil attitude should certainly come to an end.
In the meantime we are trying to dissuade ourselves from buying this other conspiracy theory that is propagated by the western imperialists about Samora's death … that he was possibly killed by his Soviet masters after telling their ambassador in Maputo to pass the reply "eat s**t!" to them after Moscow had summoned him to warn him against the riveting temptation of joining guerrilla leaders in the then Rhodesia in gravitating towards the capitalist West. He was to die a few days later when his Russian jet piloted by Russian crew responded positively to the force of gravity. Years later, with hindsight, we realised that veteran Sudanese war-lord John Garang was to suffer the same fate (Russian chopper, Russian pilots) after showing signs of forgetting his long-time "friends" in Moscow. Talk of all-weather friends! Who said there is no free lunch in this world?
Fraud
The promoters of pugilist Charles Manyuchi should learn to be serious, or else they should release him back to his Zambian mentors who brought him to the level he is today. We say this because if Manyuchi's last weekend non-title match against Colombia's Jose Agustin Julio Feria is anything to go by, then he risks deteriorating as a boxer. Surely, how could Manyuchi be made to fight Julio who is ranked 470 in the world, 448 places below him and hope to improve his game?
Isn't it not different from Manchester United being made to play a division one or a high school club here in Zimbabwe? Isn't that a waste of time?
A good fighter gets into non-title fights with those ranked closer or even higher than him so that he can learn a thing or two, rather than a washed-up chap who is ranked hopelessly way below him. In the case of Manyuchi, he might as well have done himself a big favour by hitting the same punch bag he trains on everyday than to be said to be fighting an opponent from overseas whom, as was expected, he floored inside three minutes.
Let this even be recorded as one of the too many frauds that Zimbos have committed.
Really?
We loved the suggestion by Vice President Cde Phelekezela Mphoko th-at all corrupt officials at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo should be fired because there is no room for corruption in government. That is quite encouraging to hear from the good VP, who of late has been linked to the release of high profile personalities found on the other side of the law.
Times
What goes around comes around. This is something that Dr CZ is learning very late in life. Dr CZ always thinks that the world moves along with him, not knowing that there are people ahead of him and people behind him… people who have to behave in a certain manner at a certain stage in life. As a result of this oversight, whenever Dr CZ quits something, he takes it for granted that everyone has done the same, not knowing that some might have actually not started it as yet, so when he sees or hears of some things, he wonders whether they still happen.
One thing that Dr CZ has since quit is "conference journalism", the side of the profession that attracts even those who can't construct a single passable sentence, into the profession. It has everything that those who are in search of a riotous lifestyle would want. A lot of time on the road but more importantly the out of pocket allowances… the per diem. It is at this stage that one gets to witness resourcefulness among colleagues.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, news reaching Yours Truly is to the effect that one colleague caused a scene in Bulawayo recently after his demands for transport money back to his purported base in Bikita had been laughed at. We are told the brother went berserk. Since the incident, the brother is now being called Bikita-based Harare journalist.
This comes barely two months after another one who had invited himself to a training workshop that was strictly by invitation flew off the handle over a US$10 per diem… he had to go and file a report at the organisation's head office.
These are signs of hard times. Colleagues should not despair… very soon Dr CZ will be opening the feeding points that he threatened to co-ordinate.
Races
One more from one of Dr CZ's trusted fans.
Once upon a time, a dog approached an elephant to get into a childbearing competition. In three months the dog gave birth to six puppies. In the next three months the dog gave birth to yet another set of puppies. The elephant finally gave birth after 20 months by which time the dog had given birth to over 30 puppies and was mocking the elephant into believing that it had won the competition. The elephant had a few words for the dog when the baby elephant finally arrived.
"I can see you had fooled yourself into believing that you had won the competition. I think you can appreciate now that:
1. I don't give birth to puppies.
2. When I do give birth, the calf will be ready to face the world on its own.
3. The combined weight of your 36 puppies is less than a fifth of my calf's weight.
4. The moment my calf steps onto this earth, it makes an immediate great impact as if no puppy was ever born!
Isn't this amazing? You should observe something under the sun. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry and the skilful are not necessarily wealthy. And those that are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by being in the right place at the right time. Don't let any early leaders in this life chide you into believing that you are a failure, beaten flat out and you have already lost the battle of success. Think like an elephant. Don't envy cheap quick success. For as long as you are in the right place, your chance is coming and by the signs of time it won't be long. You are not that small to give birth to puppies. Only your one achievement will surpass several combined little achievements. You are guaranteed to make it in this life. Maintain your faith in God even when it looks like it's all over for you.
When it's your time, God will correct 10 years of mistakes with one event. Patience is a virtue, so don't give up.
cznotebook@yahoo.co.uk
COMRADES, I am unable to fully address you this week, as you are all aware that I am away for yet another important engagement.
I should make it very clear Cdes that I am quite disappointed by the continued barrage of highly damaging media reports about the purported corruption involving Cde Jonah, our workhorse, without whom — like I pointed out last week — the party would not be where it is today.
What is more saddening in that most of these reports are appearing in the newspapers that we own as the party and government. Surely, this is expected of the private and foreign media, not our own newspapers…the people's newspapers.
They cannot be seen to be part of the broader agenda to damage the ZANU-PF brand beyond repair. This is a brand like no other, so this has to stop forthwith or else I will be forced to take drastic action!
Meanwhile, I am really saddened by the passing on of Cde Cephas.
We walked together the long road right from the time some of us launched our political careers in earnest from his house in Highfield, more than half a century ago until his recent retirement.
Although we differed here and there, just like any other normal human beings, I don't think there is any iota of truth in claims that he was against the idea of being buried at the National Heroes Acre where other nationalists are resting. There is certainly no truth in that.
Anyway, as Cde Saviour rightly pointed out, Cde Cephas belonged to the party and Zimbabwe so it is for the Politburo, not his family, to make such decisions and Politburo decisions are sacred and therefore cannot be opposed.
This is something that you Cdes should tell your family members while you are still live… that when your time to go for your heavenly reward comes, it is the party that makes all the important decisions.
Kindest Regards
Yours Sincerely
ME
… AND CZ'S NOTEBOOK
History
Yesterday was really a sad day in history. It was a day that we joined our blood brothers and sisters in Mozambique to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of president Samora Machel in a curious air crash that took place on October 19, 1986. This was indeed a very black day for the African continent.
There is no question about this.
While still in this commemorative mood, Dr CZ is also thinking about how it could also be very good to commemorate the death of an estimated 30 000-plus people that our super hero Cde Samora "heroically" killed extra-judicially as well as through his Stalinists "re-education" camps when he realised the importance of consolidating his stranglehold on sweet power.
While our nationalists were busy making sure that ZANU dissidents like Rugare Gumbo, Dzinashe Machingura, Henry Hamadziripi and others were not summarily executed by insisting that they be handed over to Samora for safe-keeping, ironically Samora himself was busy rounding up and killing (notwithstanding repeated assurances made to Nyerere and Kaunda that he would not do such a dastardly thing) most founding FRELIMO members who posed a threat to his power-grab.
Imagine our nationalists in 1980 rounding up all those who where "on the wrong side of history" like Joshua Nkomo, Ndabaningi Sithole, James Chikerema, Chirau, Ndiweni et al and sending them to early graves after show trials? That was hero (and Statesman!) Samora for you!
The only "crime" that Reverend Uriah Simango, his wife Celina, Paulo Gumane and Adelino Gwambe, Father Mateus Gwengere, Joana Simeao among others, committed was (foolishly) trying to make Mozambique a multi-party democracy by forming a political party in readiness to participate in multi-party elections what they (wrongly) expected to usher majority rule any time from 1974.
Our mealy-mouthed approach to issues as grave as this could be the reason why Africa spawns one bloodthirsty dictator after another. This see-no-evil, hear-no-evil and say-no-evil attitude should certainly come to an end.
In the meantime we are trying to dissuade ourselves from buying this other conspiracy theory that is propagated by the western imperialists about Samora's death … that he was possibly killed by his Soviet masters after telling their ambassador in Maputo to pass the reply "eat s**t!" to them after Moscow had summoned him to warn him against the riveting temptation of joining guerrilla leaders in the then Rhodesia in gravitating towards the capitalist West. He was to die a few days later when his Russian jet piloted by Russian crew responded positively to the force of gravity. Years later, with hindsight, we realised that veteran Sudanese war-lord John Garang was to suffer the same fate (Russian chopper, Russian pilots) after showing signs of forgetting his long-time "friends" in Moscow. Talk of all-weather friends! Who said there is no free lunch in this world?
Fraud
The promoters of pugilist Charles Manyuchi should learn to be serious, or else they should release him back to his Zambian mentors who brought him to the level he is today. We say this because if Manyuchi's last weekend non-title match against Colombia's Jose Agustin Julio Feria is anything to go by, then he risks deteriorating as a boxer. Surely, how could Manyuchi be made to fight Julio who is ranked 470 in the world, 448 places below him and hope to improve his game?
Isn't it not different from Manchester United being made to play a division one or a high school club here in Zimbabwe? Isn't that a waste of time?
A good fighter gets into non-title fights with those ranked closer or even higher than him so that he can learn a thing or two, rather than a washed-up chap who is ranked hopelessly way below him. In the case of Manyuchi, he might as well have done himself a big favour by hitting the same punch bag he trains on everyday than to be said to be fighting an opponent from overseas whom, as was expected, he floored inside three minutes.
Let this even be recorded as one of the too many frauds that Zimbos have committed.
Really?
We loved the suggestion by Vice President Cde Phelekezela Mphoko th-at all corrupt officials at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo should be fired because there is no room for corruption in government. That is quite encouraging to hear from the good VP, who of late has been linked to the release of high profile personalities found on the other side of the law.
Times
What goes around comes around. This is something that Dr CZ is learning very late in life. Dr CZ always thinks that the world moves along with him, not knowing that there are people ahead of him and people behind him… people who have to behave in a certain manner at a certain stage in life. As a result of this oversight, whenever Dr CZ quits something, he takes it for granted that everyone has done the same, not knowing that some might have actually not started it as yet, so when he sees or hears of some things, he wonders whether they still happen.
One thing that Dr CZ has since quit is "conference journalism", the side of the profession that attracts even those who can't construct a single passable sentence, into the profession. It has everything that those who are in search of a riotous lifestyle would want. A lot of time on the road but more importantly the out of pocket allowances… the per diem. It is at this stage that one gets to witness resourcefulness among colleagues.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, news reaching Yours Truly is to the effect that one colleague caused a scene in Bulawayo recently after his demands for transport money back to his purported base in Bikita had been laughed at. We are told the brother went berserk. Since the incident, the brother is now being called Bikita-based Harare journalist.
This comes barely two months after another one who had invited himself to a training workshop that was strictly by invitation flew off the handle over a US$10 per diem… he had to go and file a report at the organisation's head office.
These are signs of hard times. Colleagues should not despair… very soon Dr CZ will be opening the feeding points that he threatened to co-ordinate.
Races
One more from one of Dr CZ's trusted fans.
Once upon a time, a dog approached an elephant to get into a childbearing competition. In three months the dog gave birth to six puppies. In the next three months the dog gave birth to yet another set of puppies. The elephant finally gave birth after 20 months by which time the dog had given birth to over 30 puppies and was mocking the elephant into believing that it had won the competition. The elephant had a few words for the dog when the baby elephant finally arrived.
"I can see you had fooled yourself into believing that you had won the competition. I think you can appreciate now that:
1. I don't give birth to puppies.
2. When I do give birth, the calf will be ready to face the world on its own.
3. The combined weight of your 36 puppies is less than a fifth of my calf's weight.
4. The moment my calf steps onto this earth, it makes an immediate great impact as if no puppy was ever born!
Isn't this amazing? You should observe something under the sun. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry and the skilful are not necessarily wealthy. And those that are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by being in the right place at the right time. Don't let any early leaders in this life chide you into believing that you are a failure, beaten flat out and you have already lost the battle of success. Think like an elephant. Don't envy cheap quick success. For as long as you are in the right place, your chance is coming and by the signs of time it won't be long. You are not that small to give birth to puppies. Only your one achievement will surpass several combined little achievements. You are guaranteed to make it in this life. Maintain your faith in God even when it looks like it's all over for you.
When it's your time, God will correct 10 years of mistakes with one event. Patience is a virtue, so don't give up.
cznotebook@yahoo.co.uk
Source - fingaz
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.
