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SADC BEHAVIOUR IN ZIMBABWE IRRESPONSIBLE: COMMUNITIES POINT
PRESS STATEMENT: 24 AUGUST 2010
Once again the Southern African Development Community seems to be losing its footing on Zimbabwe. Its continued obsession with “sanctions” and clear negation of issues affecting the lives of Zimbabweans questions the sincerity of SADC as a bloc to solve the situation in Zimbabwe once and for all.
The issues in Zimbabwe do not start with “targeted sanctions” or “sanctions” however one would want to name them. Those measures are in themselves a reaction, they followed an event and it is that event that still remains unsolved. They followed the stolen Presidential Elections of 2002 which thanks to SADC’s inertia were repeated in 2008 this time with fatal consequences. The nation state in Zimbabwe paralysed itself first by allowing a culture of the commission of atrocities in post-independence Zimbabwe and second by allowing impunity over those crimes which have been viewed as a reward for the continued perpetration.
For SADC to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear on this behaviour of ZANU PF in particular and fail to insist on an inquiry into those atrocities and then try to blame it all on sanctions does not read the mood in Zimbabwe correctly. SADC does not seem to see the movement towards the radicalisation of some opposition forces in Zimbabwe with others even calling for a separate homeland in Matabeleland and a slowly building consensus particularly in the Diaspora for a more engaging effort against ZANU PF. SADC’s failure to understand the fact that ZANU PF is continuing to act as a bully especially after they lost the 2008 General Elections and went into a bloody campaign again which SADC has failed to question alienates Zimbabweans with the fatal consequence of allowing a new breed of radical politics to emerge in Zimbabwe.
Our fear is that ZANU PF may feel encouraged to continue on the same path should they lose any future elections and Zimbabweans, unconvinced that SADC is there for them may end up resorting to an armed campaign with disastrous consequences for the region. It must be stated that SADC may have the capacity to sit down and defend ZANU PF whenever and whatever but they may not be able to contain the anger of Zimbabweans determined to put an end to ZANU PF by whatever means. There is a good dividend for them to be seen to be credible and we urge SADC to push the Government of Zimbabwe in the following:
1. An inquiry into the post 2008 Elections violence and the bringing of perpetrators to justice.
2. A fresh inquiry into Gukurahundi atrocities and the bringing of the perpetrators to justice so as to bring the issue to its final closure.
3. An inquiry into the liberation war atrocities especially Nyadzonia, Mkushi, Mulungushi, Tembwe and Chimoyo and the bringing of the perpetrators to justice and obtain a final closure.
4. Urge an audit on the land reform and since the whole programme was not restitution as in essence it replaced white commercial farmers with black commercial farmers SADC must insist on a formula for the compensation of the previous farmers and the payment of redundant costs for former farm labourers by the new owners of the land.
Zimbabwe yearns for justice and SADC’s seemingly conspiring inertia is not helping but fanning fires in a country seating on the edge of recovery or boiling up. COMMUNITIES POINT believes in “Justice before Reconciliation” and as we are indebted to no-one but Zimbabwe, we believe the starting point is the atrocities committed by UDI defenders against Zimbabweans during the liberation struggle. We continue to urge the above not as a witch hunt but as a way to bring all injustices a final closure and promote a fresh start.
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
THE XENOPHOBIA IN SOUTH AFRICA, TIME TO ACT IS NOW: JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
South Africa must act tough on the xenophobia which is continuing. Where were the authorities because this thing has been said over a long time and they were denying it? If the perpetrators and those who incited them in the last wave had been brought before the hands of the law that could have been a deterrent, nothing happened and the same elements feel encouraged. There is no doubt in my mind that some politicians there may actually be behind this and the truth needs to be told otherwise we are seeing the seeds of Rwanda germinating and growing. South Africa is a disaster waiting to happen if this is not STOPPED and the time is now. I make no apologies to anyone tall, short, thick, thin, black, white, purple, pink, we are nurturing genocide just because we cannot rebuke South Africa because of its past.
But that is a weakness because all of us have a bad past; Europe has a bad past of NAZI Invasions, Jews have a bad past from holocaust, Afro-Americans have a bad past from slavery, native Americans, Australians and Canadians all have a bad past based on the savagery of colonisation, the former Soviet-bloc has a bad past from Stalin, Cambodia has a bad past from the Pol Pot era, Ndebeles in Zimbabwe have a bad past emanating from Gukurahundi, white farmers and opposition supporters in Zimbabwe have a recent bad past that emanates from persecution by misguided ZANU PF elements, Zimbabweans in general were the collective victims of the barbarism of Ian Smith’s milder form of apartheid with all its repression and humiliation, Malawians were at the receiving end of Kamuzu Banda’s Young Pioneers, the Congolese under Mobutu Sese SSeko, Ugandans under Idi Amin, Latin Americans during the military dictatorships, Tshaka in his youth, Senzangakona and Mzilikazi at the hands of Ntombazi and Zwide, the sons and daughters of Israel under Pharaoh, Muslims during the bloody Christian Crusades, the list is endless. I am sensitive to history but it cannot continue to shape us and we can never use history as an excuse to fail to act against clearly devoid and vile deeds such as the barbaric attacks of foreigners in South Africa.
I find a lot of fault in South African politicians because they appear to love us during day and then turn a blind eye to the savage attacks of our people in their country. The relationship between Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland does not start with the sacrifices of the former frontline states during the country’s struggle against apartheid. The relationship predates even colonisation, it is a relationship penned in our genes; these are bloody ties that have been expressed through all the generations. The Venda of South Africa have their roots in the Mwene Mutapa Empire, the Rozwi mainly of Zimbabwe have their roots in the BaLobedu/BaLotzwi and BaPedi of South Africa, the Ndebele have their roots originally in the Ndwandwe and later Tshaka’s Zulu. The fact that we are different countries now is mainly because of the designs of colonisation and with it the utti possedettis doctrine which completely changed the concept of nationhood as it had been known before. It is because of that doctrine that Venda nationhood which was supposed to be on both sides of the Limpopo became Zimbabwe and South African nationhood, and the same goes for Kalanga, Gaza, Zulu or Shona nationhood. I am surprised that we are folding our arms to a minority misguided element in South Africa who may actually have no history of even suffering under apartheid whatsoever. There is a thug element in it and the fact that we are all turning a blind eye on them makes me angry to the deepest vein of my emotion mechanism.
While the deployment of the police and later the army to quell the attacks is welcome this may be window dressing in light of the fact that there is still an international presence in South Africa after the World Cup. I like South Africa and all its people because unlike some people I am always aware of the bloody ties that still remain relevant between its people and our people. Without that symbiosis the histories of the two countries will be incomplete. I have confidence in the majority of South Africans who are more than knowledgeable and enlightened to know what not to do. I have had the opportunity of interacting with South Africans both in South Africa and Zimbabwe and even here in the United Kingdom. I have nothing else but veneration and I cherish the time I have spent with them. I have even taught and represented South Africans at different stages of my professional life and to me they remain my brothers and sisters. My confidence in them is overwhelming. But unfortunately I do not have confidence especially on this matter with the politicians in South Africa, in street language they are playing up simple. They are shrouded in hypocrisy especially on Zimbabwe.
The deployment of soldiers is simply reactive and the risk of re-occurrence remains inherent. South Africa could have done much better by a combination of a clear deterrent in punishing the crime and going back to the grassroots to teach them on the dangers of xenophobia. In particular the government must not shy away from saying why they have opened up to immigration and be honest to the people that the skills that the foreigners are bringing are needed in the country. They should also be clear that there is no alternative if there really is no alternative. And that the Government of Zimbabwe and Simon Kaya Moyo is saying nothing and doing nothing makes it even more painful. South Africa too remains with the duty as a regional power to see to it that they address within SADC the importance of developing coherent strategies and policies to rid the region of poverty.
As long as South Africa is the only industrialised country in the region its own continued growth will be stunted but at the same time the immigrants will be finding their way into the country. The fact that the Government of South Africa is implicit in the blocking of the growth of regional mechanism for promoting the rule of law as seen by Zimbabwe’s continuing contempt to the SADC Tribunal and South Africa’s failure to raise concern in the aftermath of that is testimony of how South Africa’s misplaced priorities are contributory to the problems we see in the region.
All SADC countries without exception can easily grow their own industrial capacities with the diverse resource bases they have. Zimbabwe is even better as those resources are all matched by a relatively developed infrastructure and an educated work force all of which are underutilised because of the corruption and waywardness of its leadership again at the implied encouragement of South Africa. In hoping for the better I encourage serious thinking and actions on the problem which will look at the causes and the corrective measures not only punitive but proactive and also with a deliberate extension of this action-orientation to the SADC system with a view of developing a truly industrialised region in which each individual country will at least be able to retain its own workforce. A country such as Zimbabwe, with its population at around 10 million will be a very rich country with a GDP of US$100billion and given its abundant resource I do not think this is really far-fetched. Xenophobia is a product of failed policies and approaches both in the domestic affairs of South Africa and its foreign policy options that have allowed the region to have sacred cows who can violate human rights and be corrupt with South Africa patting them on the back and shielding them from censor. The explosion of immigration in the country is a case of the products of this failing foreign policy ethos coming home.
Julius Sai MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA is the CHAIRMAN OF COMMUNITIES POINT, A ZIMBABWEAN PRESSURE GROUP but he writes in his own capacity.
Contact mutyambizizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 07529705413 BLOG: http://juliussaimutyambizidewa.blogspot.com/
South Africa must act tough on the xenophobia which is continuing. Where were the authorities because this thing has been said over a long time and they were denying it? If the perpetrators and those who incited them in the last wave had been brought before the hands of the law that could have been a deterrent, nothing happened and the same elements feel encouraged. There is no doubt in my mind that some politicians there may actually be behind this and the truth needs to be told otherwise we are seeing the seeds of Rwanda germinating and growing. South Africa is a disaster waiting to happen if this is not STOPPED and the time is now. I make no apologies to anyone tall, short, thick, thin, black, white, purple, pink, we are nurturing genocide just because we cannot rebuke South Africa because of its past.
But that is a weakness because all of us have a bad past; Europe has a bad past of NAZI Invasions, Jews have a bad past from holocaust, Afro-Americans have a bad past from slavery, native Americans, Australians and Canadians all have a bad past based on the savagery of colonisation, the former Soviet-bloc has a bad past from Stalin, Cambodia has a bad past from the Pol Pot era, Ndebeles in Zimbabwe have a bad past emanating from Gukurahundi, white farmers and opposition supporters in Zimbabwe have a recent bad past that emanates from persecution by misguided ZANU PF elements, Zimbabweans in general were the collective victims of the barbarism of Ian Smith’s milder form of apartheid with all its repression and humiliation, Malawians were at the receiving end of Kamuzu Banda’s Young Pioneers, the Congolese under Mobutu Sese SSeko, Ugandans under Idi Amin, Latin Americans during the military dictatorships, Tshaka in his youth, Senzangakona and Mzilikazi at the hands of Ntombazi and Zwide, the sons and daughters of Israel under Pharaoh, Muslims during the bloody Christian Crusades, the list is endless. I am sensitive to history but it cannot continue to shape us and we can never use history as an excuse to fail to act against clearly devoid and vile deeds such as the barbaric attacks of foreigners in South Africa.
I find a lot of fault in South African politicians because they appear to love us during day and then turn a blind eye to the savage attacks of our people in their country. The relationship between Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland does not start with the sacrifices of the former frontline states during the country’s struggle against apartheid. The relationship predates even colonisation, it is a relationship penned in our genes; these are bloody ties that have been expressed through all the generations. The Venda of South Africa have their roots in the Mwene Mutapa Empire, the Rozwi mainly of Zimbabwe have their roots in the BaLobedu/BaLotzwi and BaPedi of South Africa, the Ndebele have their roots originally in the Ndwandwe and later Tshaka’s Zulu. The fact that we are different countries now is mainly because of the designs of colonisation and with it the utti possedettis doctrine which completely changed the concept of nationhood as it had been known before. It is because of that doctrine that Venda nationhood which was supposed to be on both sides of the Limpopo became Zimbabwe and South African nationhood, and the same goes for Kalanga, Gaza, Zulu or Shona nationhood. I am surprised that we are folding our arms to a minority misguided element in South Africa who may actually have no history of even suffering under apartheid whatsoever. There is a thug element in it and the fact that we are all turning a blind eye on them makes me angry to the deepest vein of my emotion mechanism.
While the deployment of the police and later the army to quell the attacks is welcome this may be window dressing in light of the fact that there is still an international presence in South Africa after the World Cup. I like South Africa and all its people because unlike some people I am always aware of the bloody ties that still remain relevant between its people and our people. Without that symbiosis the histories of the two countries will be incomplete. I have confidence in the majority of South Africans who are more than knowledgeable and enlightened to know what not to do. I have had the opportunity of interacting with South Africans both in South Africa and Zimbabwe and even here in the United Kingdom. I have nothing else but veneration and I cherish the time I have spent with them. I have even taught and represented South Africans at different stages of my professional life and to me they remain my brothers and sisters. My confidence in them is overwhelming. But unfortunately I do not have confidence especially on this matter with the politicians in South Africa, in street language they are playing up simple. They are shrouded in hypocrisy especially on Zimbabwe.
The deployment of soldiers is simply reactive and the risk of re-occurrence remains inherent. South Africa could have done much better by a combination of a clear deterrent in punishing the crime and going back to the grassroots to teach them on the dangers of xenophobia. In particular the government must not shy away from saying why they have opened up to immigration and be honest to the people that the skills that the foreigners are bringing are needed in the country. They should also be clear that there is no alternative if there really is no alternative. And that the Government of Zimbabwe and Simon Kaya Moyo is saying nothing and doing nothing makes it even more painful. South Africa too remains with the duty as a regional power to see to it that they address within SADC the importance of developing coherent strategies and policies to rid the region of poverty.
As long as South Africa is the only industrialised country in the region its own continued growth will be stunted but at the same time the immigrants will be finding their way into the country. The fact that the Government of South Africa is implicit in the blocking of the growth of regional mechanism for promoting the rule of law as seen by Zimbabwe’s continuing contempt to the SADC Tribunal and South Africa’s failure to raise concern in the aftermath of that is testimony of how South Africa’s misplaced priorities are contributory to the problems we see in the region.
All SADC countries without exception can easily grow their own industrial capacities with the diverse resource bases they have. Zimbabwe is even better as those resources are all matched by a relatively developed infrastructure and an educated work force all of which are underutilised because of the corruption and waywardness of its leadership again at the implied encouragement of South Africa. In hoping for the better I encourage serious thinking and actions on the problem which will look at the causes and the corrective measures not only punitive but proactive and also with a deliberate extension of this action-orientation to the SADC system with a view of developing a truly industrialised region in which each individual country will at least be able to retain its own workforce. A country such as Zimbabwe, with its population at around 10 million will be a very rich country with a GDP of US$100billion and given its abundant resource I do not think this is really far-fetched. Xenophobia is a product of failed policies and approaches both in the domestic affairs of South Africa and its foreign policy options that have allowed the region to have sacred cows who can violate human rights and be corrupt with South Africa patting them on the back and shielding them from censor. The explosion of immigration in the country is a case of the products of this failing foreign policy ethos coming home.
Julius Sai MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA is the CHAIRMAN OF COMMUNITIES POINT, A ZIMBABWEAN PRESSURE GROUP but he writes in his own capacity.
Contact mutyambizizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 07529705413 BLOG: http://juliussaimutyambizidewa.blogspot.com/
Saturday, 17 July 2010
THE CUNNING HYMN: SAI DEWA
THE CUNNING HYMN: SAI DEWA
Smile and smile, for a mile wear the good expression
Beam as if the world belongs to that emotion
Taboos have now been buried
Stereotype was defeated
Obama became the president!
Racism is no longer fashionable
Throw it away as if you are discarding some dirt
Click the shutter as you dispose it to the gutter
For history has bequeathed onto us a New Dawn
Excellence was rewarded.....stereotype is buried
Obama won!
Now not anymore, shall we talk as if we are stalking angry lions
Colour can no longer tie us forever to mediocrity
South Africa shone like the brightest star
The Vuvuzela conquered and became the sound of victory
Stored forever to memory centres
To restore sense to a world struggling with the untruths history created.
Obama vanquished, justice was done
America showed the world and announced a vision
Not based on keratin, not based on melanin
But based on excellence and skill
Racism was defeated it lies flat in the gutter, lifeless, shamed with no takers to restore it
Stereotype is dead, with no epitaph and no grave......humiliated in its death and after life!!!!
Smile and smile, for a mile wear the good expression
Beam as if the world belongs to that emotion
Taboos have now been buried
Stereotype was defeated
Obama became the president!
Racism is no longer fashionable
Throw it away as if you are discarding some dirt
Click the shutter as you dispose it to the gutter
For history has bequeathed onto us a New Dawn
Excellence was rewarded.....stereotype is buried
Obama won!
Now not anymore, shall we talk as if we are stalking angry lions
Colour can no longer tie us forever to mediocrity
South Africa shone like the brightest star
The Vuvuzela conquered and became the sound of victory
Stored forever to memory centres
To restore sense to a world struggling with the untruths history created.
Obama vanquished, justice was done
America showed the world and announced a vision
Not based on keratin, not based on melanin
But based on excellence and skill
Racism was defeated it lies flat in the gutter, lifeless, shamed with no takers to restore it
Stereotype is dead, with no epitaph and no grave......humiliated in its death and after life!!!!
Friday, 16 July 2010
COMMUNITIES POINT STATEMENT ON THE CERTIFICATION OF ZIMBABWE DIAMONDS UNDER THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS
______________________________________________________________________________
COMMUNITIES POINT STATEMENT ON THE CERTIFICATION OF ZIMBABWE DIAMONDS UNDER THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS:
BY THE CHAIRMAN: JULIUS MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
Communities Point welcomes the certification of Zimbabwe’s diamonds under the Kimberley Process. We join the government and people of Zimbabwe in celebrating the fact that the country will now be able to sell its diamonds to the world and reap something. Like what Finance Minister Tendai Biti said, the proceeds from the sale of diamonds will be useful revenue for the reconstruction of the country. Every penny will count and where there really is an alternative, that money should be from our own coffers rather than from external sources.
But certification under the Kimberley Process has never been the end that we sought. What Zimbabweans want is fairness as regards their natural resources. The collective aspiration of every Zimbabwean is to see the revenue really changing the landscape, making a contribution to the development of the country. The Kimberley Process was not the only risk to the diamond industry in Zimbabwe. There always have been several inherent risks most of which are beta risks rather than external. They include the corruption that has bedevilled our diamond industry and the impunity that follows that corruption. While we note that this has been the norm for quite a time in Zimbabwe, we are encouraged with the recent ZRP action that has ridden above the curtain of political astronomy and has been able to enforce the law without fear of politicians and favour. Such uncommon valour needs to be extended to the volatile diamond industry to ensure that the procurement of diamonds and their sale is fair from the first point to the last.
We request that there be a stringent regulatory framework in the diamond industry, which must be able to strike a balance between the need for investment and the curbing of corruption in an industry that can easily become a curse to our country. The beginning point will be to bring to a final closure on all outstanding issues including that of the ownership of concessions. The fact that the very ownership of Marange is still in dispute does not augur well for the country and the issues of ownership must be brought to a final closure, a just closure that will not be inclined at punishing anyone for their race or political affiliation. The potential Zimbabwe’s natural resources have on the development of the country can never be overlooked. For success there is a case study next door, Botswana. Yet for failures there are lots of case studies again next door, thereby nudging us to challenge our consciences to do the right thing for the common good of the country. We once again call for the strengthening and empowerment of the existing Zimbabwean institutions and call politicians to disengage from interfering with the law and this includes the proper functioning of the police in enforcing the law. We also call for the emergence of new institutions and a people driven constitution that will serve as a common manual for our reference as new challenges emerge in our country.
.www.communitiespoint.com or mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or Julius.mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 00447529705413
.
COMMUNITIES POINT STATEMENT ON THE CERTIFICATION OF ZIMBABWE DIAMONDS UNDER THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS:
BY THE CHAIRMAN: JULIUS MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
Communities Point welcomes the certification of Zimbabwe’s diamonds under the Kimberley Process. We join the government and people of Zimbabwe in celebrating the fact that the country will now be able to sell its diamonds to the world and reap something. Like what Finance Minister Tendai Biti said, the proceeds from the sale of diamonds will be useful revenue for the reconstruction of the country. Every penny will count and where there really is an alternative, that money should be from our own coffers rather than from external sources.
But certification under the Kimberley Process has never been the end that we sought. What Zimbabweans want is fairness as regards their natural resources. The collective aspiration of every Zimbabwean is to see the revenue really changing the landscape, making a contribution to the development of the country. The Kimberley Process was not the only risk to the diamond industry in Zimbabwe. There always have been several inherent risks most of which are beta risks rather than external. They include the corruption that has bedevilled our diamond industry and the impunity that follows that corruption. While we note that this has been the norm for quite a time in Zimbabwe, we are encouraged with the recent ZRP action that has ridden above the curtain of political astronomy and has been able to enforce the law without fear of politicians and favour. Such uncommon valour needs to be extended to the volatile diamond industry to ensure that the procurement of diamonds and their sale is fair from the first point to the last.
We request that there be a stringent regulatory framework in the diamond industry, which must be able to strike a balance between the need for investment and the curbing of corruption in an industry that can easily become a curse to our country. The beginning point will be to bring to a final closure on all outstanding issues including that of the ownership of concessions. The fact that the very ownership of Marange is still in dispute does not augur well for the country and the issues of ownership must be brought to a final closure, a just closure that will not be inclined at punishing anyone for their race or political affiliation. The potential Zimbabwe’s natural resources have on the development of the country can never be overlooked. For success there is a case study next door, Botswana. Yet for failures there are lots of case studies again next door, thereby nudging us to challenge our consciences to do the right thing for the common good of the country. We once again call for the strengthening and empowerment of the existing Zimbabwean institutions and call politicians to disengage from interfering with the law and this includes the proper functioning of the police in enforcing the law. We also call for the emergence of new institutions and a people driven constitution that will serve as a common manual for our reference as new challenges emerge in our country.
.www.communitiespoint.com or mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or Julius.mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 00447529705413
.
Saturday, 10 July 2010
COMMUNITIES POINT STATEMENT ON AID AND THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS:
BY THE CHAIRMAN: JULIUS MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
The assertion by President Robert Mugabe that Zimbabwe does not need aid http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=6752&cat=1 is unfortunate because again it is rhetoric rather than reality. His aspirations of a country that will not be modelled on a perennial need to depend on others for its own survival are the same aspirations we hold yet unfortunately given the current situation in Zimbabwe, of a total failure to fully capacitate by almost every sector of the economy actually mean that Zimbabwe definitely cries for aid at least for the meantime.
President Mugabe must be honest when reaching out to the nation as his assertions, although aimed at his own ZANU PF audience, are coming from a Head of State and the fact that they lack any form of empirical origins fly in the face of our collective efforts to bring the situation in Zimbabwe to normalcy. This has been the ZANU PF ethos throughout the 28 years of its singular governance. They have continued to serve the nation a bitter cocktail of empty promises which when they fail to deliver, the failures are blamed on others without looking at the party’s own contributory effects to Zimbabwe’s failure. In fact there has never been an attempt by ZANU PF to take Zimbabwe to self-sufficiency. Yardsticks that had been set in the country for generations such as our own ability to weave our cotton into cloth, a legacy we had acquired from 12th century Zimbabweans who were led by Chibatamatosi, all disappeared under ZANU PF rule. It is a fact that President Mugabe’s rule took away the expertise to make hoes, weave cloth etc that we always had and today all the cotton produced by our hardworking farmers in Hurungwe, Gokwe and other areas is not woven in Zimbabwe but outside the country. The President’s assumption remains as such, an assumption devoid of alternatives and this is not good for a young school leaver who would want to contribute to his own country but who finds himself having to work in other countries as there are no jobs in Zimbabwe.
What President Mugabe failed to say was the chance that the country has had in the 20 years from 1980 to 2000. He has failed to state that these were missed chances to construct a truly home grown industry that captured the aspirations and contributions of everyone in a single effort to make the economy less dependent on donor aid. What he has failed to say is why a country with such an abundant resource base and an educated workforce has failed to develop itself. He has failed to say why the LupGas, that project which aimed at tapping the abundant methane resources in Matableland North, has failed to take off. Had that happened, who knows we could ended up liquefying the gas to produce petroleum and ease our fuel problems in the country. He has totally failed to say why the Chitungwiza Rail Porject, forever present in ZANU PF’s development fantasies has failed to take off not even an inch of rail has ever been constructed in Chitungwiza. Zimbabweans and Zimbabwe have not failed, its sports have not failed, its mines have not failed, its religions have not failed, its music has not failed, its land and agriculture have not failed. Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans have been failed by an inept leadership that has no clue about the challenges of developing the nation. This is the truth, the country lacks the one to steer it to the development it deserves and President Mugabe is the leader of that team of failures.
Coming to the Kimberley Process, the issues being thrown at us are not being thrown by foreigners only. Our own son Maguwu has also said so. The response of President Mugabe’s government has been to arrest him which is again a total failure at apprehending issues. Maguwu is a Zimbabwean, he has the right to be heard. The Government has shown that it is incapable of seizing an opportunity and has again left foreigners to dictate the pace at which things happen. As Zimbabweans we want to see the prosperity of our country and the role the Marange diamonds could play is immense. But I don’t want the money to come at the expense of people’s lives.
Instead of pursuing this line of denials without any evidence President Mugabe’s Government must take the initiative to bring the matter to a final closure. Contrary to what the President is saying the Kimberley Process does not exist to punish Zimbabwe only. It has been there before and it will be there well after the Zimbabwe saga. We need not confront the process but we must take the initiative to prove that the Marange diamonds are clean. There is a clear alternative to this confrontation which is the instituting of an international inquiry by Zimbabwe which will investigate what Maguwu and others have been saying. This independent international inquiry will bring about a verdict on the Marange diamonds that is more credible and which is likely to be accepted by the KP process. Throughout its history the unmaking of Zimbabwe has been caused by our inability to open up, the concept of sovereignty has a troubling definition in our minds that is linked to a fixation on not wanting an independent verdict. By taking the initiative Zimbabwe will also be able to choose the functional, personal and structural component of the international commission. This is what we challenge the Government to do with regard to the Marange saga and the Kimberley Process.
.
www.communitiespoint.com or mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or Julius.mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 00447529705413
BY THE CHAIRMAN: JULIUS MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
The assertion by President Robert Mugabe that Zimbabwe does not need aid http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=6752&cat=1 is unfortunate because again it is rhetoric rather than reality. His aspirations of a country that will not be modelled on a perennial need to depend on others for its own survival are the same aspirations we hold yet unfortunately given the current situation in Zimbabwe, of a total failure to fully capacitate by almost every sector of the economy actually mean that Zimbabwe definitely cries for aid at least for the meantime.
President Mugabe must be honest when reaching out to the nation as his assertions, although aimed at his own ZANU PF audience, are coming from a Head of State and the fact that they lack any form of empirical origins fly in the face of our collective efforts to bring the situation in Zimbabwe to normalcy. This has been the ZANU PF ethos throughout the 28 years of its singular governance. They have continued to serve the nation a bitter cocktail of empty promises which when they fail to deliver, the failures are blamed on others without looking at the party’s own contributory effects to Zimbabwe’s failure. In fact there has never been an attempt by ZANU PF to take Zimbabwe to self-sufficiency. Yardsticks that had been set in the country for generations such as our own ability to weave our cotton into cloth, a legacy we had acquired from 12th century Zimbabweans who were led by Chibatamatosi, all disappeared under ZANU PF rule. It is a fact that President Mugabe’s rule took away the expertise to make hoes, weave cloth etc that we always had and today all the cotton produced by our hardworking farmers in Hurungwe, Gokwe and other areas is not woven in Zimbabwe but outside the country. The President’s assumption remains as such, an assumption devoid of alternatives and this is not good for a young school leaver who would want to contribute to his own country but who finds himself having to work in other countries as there are no jobs in Zimbabwe.
What President Mugabe failed to say was the chance that the country has had in the 20 years from 1980 to 2000. He has failed to state that these were missed chances to construct a truly home grown industry that captured the aspirations and contributions of everyone in a single effort to make the economy less dependent on donor aid. What he has failed to say is why a country with such an abundant resource base and an educated workforce has failed to develop itself. He has failed to say why the LupGas, that project which aimed at tapping the abundant methane resources in Matableland North, has failed to take off. Had that happened, who knows we could ended up liquefying the gas to produce petroleum and ease our fuel problems in the country. He has totally failed to say why the Chitungwiza Rail Porject, forever present in ZANU PF’s development fantasies has failed to take off not even an inch of rail has ever been constructed in Chitungwiza. Zimbabweans and Zimbabwe have not failed, its sports have not failed, its mines have not failed, its religions have not failed, its music has not failed, its land and agriculture have not failed. Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans have been failed by an inept leadership that has no clue about the challenges of developing the nation. This is the truth, the country lacks the one to steer it to the development it deserves and President Mugabe is the leader of that team of failures.
Coming to the Kimberley Process, the issues being thrown at us are not being thrown by foreigners only. Our own son Maguwu has also said so. The response of President Mugabe’s government has been to arrest him which is again a total failure at apprehending issues. Maguwu is a Zimbabwean, he has the right to be heard. The Government has shown that it is incapable of seizing an opportunity and has again left foreigners to dictate the pace at which things happen. As Zimbabweans we want to see the prosperity of our country and the role the Marange diamonds could play is immense. But I don’t want the money to come at the expense of people’s lives.
Instead of pursuing this line of denials without any evidence President Mugabe’s Government must take the initiative to bring the matter to a final closure. Contrary to what the President is saying the Kimberley Process does not exist to punish Zimbabwe only. It has been there before and it will be there well after the Zimbabwe saga. We need not confront the process but we must take the initiative to prove that the Marange diamonds are clean. There is a clear alternative to this confrontation which is the instituting of an international inquiry by Zimbabwe which will investigate what Maguwu and others have been saying. This independent international inquiry will bring about a verdict on the Marange diamonds that is more credible and which is likely to be accepted by the KP process. Throughout its history the unmaking of Zimbabwe has been caused by our inability to open up, the concept of sovereignty has a troubling definition in our minds that is linked to a fixation on not wanting an independent verdict. By taking the initiative Zimbabwe will also be able to choose the functional, personal and structural component of the international commission. This is what we challenge the Government to do with regard to the Marange saga and the Kimberley Process.
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www.communitiespoint.com or mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or Julius.mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 00447529705413
Friday, 9 July 2010
COMMUNITIES POINT STATEMENT ON ZIMBABWE DEFENCE FORCES:
BY THE CHAIRMAN: JULIUS MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
Communities Point is disturbed by the continuing intervention of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in frontline, partisan politics in Zimbabwe. This position is reached in line with comments attributed to Lieutnant Colonel Malamo in The Herald on Saturday 10 July 2010: http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=21069&cat=1
While Communities Point does not support illegal sanctions not only against Zimbabwe but against any innocent country and would be the first to oppose them where they exist, the issue of their existence and non-existence in Zimbabwe has been the subject of political embroilment and the making of political capital. Since we are pursuing a completely different agenda, chief of which is not to attain partisan political capital, we will not be drawn into the debate of the existence or non-existence of sanctions in Zimbabwe which is a matter for partisan politics to resolve. However we are worried by the statement of Lieutnant Colonel Malamo, whose rank in the army ought to be the senior-most non-political commissioned rank. We expect Lieutnant Colonel Malamo to be able to display the attributes of a professional rank, he is not a one star general; neither is he a Major General, Lieutnant General or General Commander which are all political appointments. He is where he is on merit and the nation shivers when such pronouncements come from people like him.
While we share the same aspirations he has for Zimbabwe to be well defended by a potent, well-equipped and resourced army our departure point is our insistence that the Zimbabwean army be professional by following the country’s Defence Charter which prohibits the army from being partisan political. We stood with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces last year when they embarked on the path of reconnecting with the nation through asymmetric warfare. We offered to assist them as Communities Point has among its ranks people with knowledge of asymmetric warfare. The advantage of winning the hearts and minds of the nation is that the ZDF will have a base from which to recruit for their future campaigns and also a cover where need arises. An army that does not have the support of its own nationals will find it very difficult to win a war regardless of how well it is resourced. This is why the NAZI army lost the World War 2 and here at home, why a well-equipped, and better trained army during the Rhodesian-era lost to guerrilla forces that although with basic weaponry and basic military training managed to win the war because of the immense support it got from the masses. Saying the same things that politicians should be saying is not encouraging. We are against an army that will support MDC, ZANU PF, ZAPU, MKD or any other political party. The army is apolitical, it is for the nation.
Coming to the issue of “sanctions” and weapons Lt Colonel Malamo must be ashamed of himself for crying loud and in daylight to have their own weapons, medicines and other equipment come from another country. No modern army worth its salt should want its own equipment coming from other countries. It is not safe. Modern, high-tech armies are self-sufficient and Communities Point makes no apologies in castigating the political leadership of Zimbabwe for failing the army by fostering and hoisting a philosophy that made our own army hostage to the arms and ammunitions of other countries at our peril. At independence in 1980 we inherited a defence industry that was capable of ensuring this self-sufficiency and now we want other armies to equip us. Lt Colonel Malamo cannot guarantee the nation’s security against the armies of those countries that supply our country. Just like the partisan politicians, he is keen on seeing a country that sells its own security by entrusting the manufacture and sourcing of equipment to foreigners instead of deliberating on a policy that will see Zimbabwe being self-sufficient in key things such as our own medicines, arms and ammunition and the production of food without which Zimbabwe cannot be said to be truly sovereign.
We urge the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to avoid the temptation of belonging to a political party. The Zimbabwe Defence Forces are not ZANLA, ZIPRA, or Rhodesia Front. They are Zimbabwean in nature and character, formed out of a compromise that followed a bloody path that no-one wishes to follow. It is insensitive to ignore this by characterising the army as if it is the extension of ZANU PF. ZANU PF has its own intelligence; Chinyavada and its own youth wing who should be allowed to talk freely about their party and I think they too will be annoyed that the country’s standing army is now usurping that power and giving it to themselves.
www.communitiespoint.com or mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or Julius.mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 00447529705413
BY THE CHAIRMAN: JULIUS MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
Communities Point is disturbed by the continuing intervention of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in frontline, partisan politics in Zimbabwe. This position is reached in line with comments attributed to Lieutnant Colonel Malamo in The Herald on Saturday 10 July 2010: http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=21069&cat=1
While Communities Point does not support illegal sanctions not only against Zimbabwe but against any innocent country and would be the first to oppose them where they exist, the issue of their existence and non-existence in Zimbabwe has been the subject of political embroilment and the making of political capital. Since we are pursuing a completely different agenda, chief of which is not to attain partisan political capital, we will not be drawn into the debate of the existence or non-existence of sanctions in Zimbabwe which is a matter for partisan politics to resolve. However we are worried by the statement of Lieutnant Colonel Malamo, whose rank in the army ought to be the senior-most non-political commissioned rank. We expect Lieutnant Colonel Malamo to be able to display the attributes of a professional rank, he is not a one star general; neither is he a Major General, Lieutnant General or General Commander which are all political appointments. He is where he is on merit and the nation shivers when such pronouncements come from people like him.
While we share the same aspirations he has for Zimbabwe to be well defended by a potent, well-equipped and resourced army our departure point is our insistence that the Zimbabwean army be professional by following the country’s Defence Charter which prohibits the army from being partisan political. We stood with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces last year when they embarked on the path of reconnecting with the nation through asymmetric warfare. We offered to assist them as Communities Point has among its ranks people with knowledge of asymmetric warfare. The advantage of winning the hearts and minds of the nation is that the ZDF will have a base from which to recruit for their future campaigns and also a cover where need arises. An army that does not have the support of its own nationals will find it very difficult to win a war regardless of how well it is resourced. This is why the NAZI army lost the World War 2 and here at home, why a well-equipped, and better trained army during the Rhodesian-era lost to guerrilla forces that although with basic weaponry and basic military training managed to win the war because of the immense support it got from the masses. Saying the same things that politicians should be saying is not encouraging. We are against an army that will support MDC, ZANU PF, ZAPU, MKD or any other political party. The army is apolitical, it is for the nation.
Coming to the issue of “sanctions” and weapons Lt Colonel Malamo must be ashamed of himself for crying loud and in daylight to have their own weapons, medicines and other equipment come from another country. No modern army worth its salt should want its own equipment coming from other countries. It is not safe. Modern, high-tech armies are self-sufficient and Communities Point makes no apologies in castigating the political leadership of Zimbabwe for failing the army by fostering and hoisting a philosophy that made our own army hostage to the arms and ammunitions of other countries at our peril. At independence in 1980 we inherited a defence industry that was capable of ensuring this self-sufficiency and now we want other armies to equip us. Lt Colonel Malamo cannot guarantee the nation’s security against the armies of those countries that supply our country. Just like the partisan politicians, he is keen on seeing a country that sells its own security by entrusting the manufacture and sourcing of equipment to foreigners instead of deliberating on a policy that will see Zimbabwe being self-sufficient in key things such as our own medicines, arms and ammunition and the production of food without which Zimbabwe cannot be said to be truly sovereign.
We urge the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to avoid the temptation of belonging to a political party. The Zimbabwe Defence Forces are not ZANLA, ZIPRA, or Rhodesia Front. They are Zimbabwean in nature and character, formed out of a compromise that followed a bloody path that no-one wishes to follow. It is insensitive to ignore this by characterising the army as if it is the extension of ZANU PF. ZANU PF has its own intelligence; Chinyavada and its own youth wing who should be allowed to talk freely about their party and I think they too will be annoyed that the country’s standing army is now usurping that power and giving it to themselves.
www.communitiespoint.com or mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or Julius.mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 00447529705413
Friday, 2 July 2010
POLICE DEFIANCE OF MINISTERS MAKONE AND MUTASA A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: COMMUNITIES POINT CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
POLICE DEFIANCE OF MINISTERS MAKONE AND MUTASA A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: COMMUNITIES POINT CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
Communities Point applauds Zimbabwe Republic Police and takes the opportunity to castigate and condemn the interference of Ministers Mutasa and Makone for interfering in the due process of law: http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=20772&cat=1
While we have the full understanding of what it means to be a parent, the actions of Minister Mutasa in trying to interfere with law enforcement by seeking the release from custody of his son Martin Mutasa clearly flies in the face of what the Mutasa family endured untold pain and suffering for during the struggle for independence in Zimbabwe. If the story of Zimbabwe is to be told, no-one can ever run away from the fact that one of the most unique features of the liberation struggle were families that went into the liberation struggle as a family unit and the names that quickly come to mind are the Mutasa, Chitepo, Malianga, Moyo, Sithole, Mawema and Chinamano families. The Mutasa family gave its father, mother and sons to the liberation cause and not so many people can easily erase that in our memories. But the struggle the Mutasa family was fighting for was a principled one based on set goals chief of which were democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Unfortunately Martin Mutasa’s decision to hang on with dubious characters and opportunists like Themba Mliswa [whose family credentials in the struggle for independence start post-2000 with their own self-serving invasions of productive farms they then go on to completely run down; leaving a trail of redundant farm-workers and starving families], was at the expense of those principles.
The police cannot allow people to invade firms in the name of indigenisation and even though I come from a similar background of a revolutionary tradition, I do not believe it is enriching to engage in such activities that fundamentally go against what Minister Mutasa and other liberation fighters that also include my own father, mother, brother and uncles, fought for. There is a time to call off these privileges, there must be a stop to excesses and Zimbabwe needs to restore itself and respect its own institutions. Surely the police has been found on the wrong in the past and I would have been the first to castigate them had Martin Mutasa been arrested wrongfully. But the interference of Minister Mutasa, a father figure not only to Martin, but to our contemporary history, flies in the face of all the sacrifices that heroes present and departed sacrificed for. In the same light I want to register my complete disappointment with co-Minister of Home Affairs Theresa Makone. Zimbabwe will quickly lose confidence in a Home Affairs Minister who thinks her role is to remove from lawful custody by coercion, relatives of fellow ministers who would have been lawfully detained for disrespecting property laws.
There is a call for Theresa Makone to understand due process. In a country the police ought to exist as an arm of government that enforces the law and while the home affairs minister is accountable for their actions, she is not expected to supervise personnel and she can never enter police stations to remove detained people from lawful custody whatever the intention, good or bad. Those in the position of Martin Mutasa should instruct defence lawyers if they are challenging their detention. A Minister cannot be that lawyer and surely a minister of home affairs cannot act like a traditional leader using prerogative powers to discharge willy-nilly those she likes and condemn those she doesn’t want to custody. To allow that will condemn the country to dark ages and surely Minister Makone must reflect.
The attitude of Theresa Makone must send shivers down the spine of every Zimbabwean as we contemplate the future scenarios as regards the work of police. If she could do so to people like Themba Mliswa, Martin Mutasa etc what will stop her from trying to release her own relative if they are accused of heinous crimes such as murder or rape? It seems there is a demonstrated clear failure to understand the role of minister. The role of minister does not operate to bully institutions and citizens into one’s whims, rather it exists to facilitate the smooth running of government departments for the common good of the citizenry. In concluding, I call the two ministers to duty and ask them to reflect and challenge them to apologise to the Zimbabwean public for steps too far travelled. I also call Zimbabweans to learn from the debacle and remain vigilant about the continued abuse of power even under the Inclusive Government. We were told that things will be done differently by MDC-T, the actions of Theresa Makone who is a senior member of the MDC-T tell a completely different story. Power corrupts but in the case of Theresa Makone the velocity of the corruption cannot even find space in the Guinness Book of Records for its incredibility.
Julius Sai MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk 07529705413
CHAIRMAN; COMMUNITIES POINT
Communities Point applauds Zimbabwe Republic Police and takes the opportunity to castigate and condemn the interference of Ministers Mutasa and Makone for interfering in the due process of law: http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=20772&cat=1
While we have the full understanding of what it means to be a parent, the actions of Minister Mutasa in trying to interfere with law enforcement by seeking the release from custody of his son Martin Mutasa clearly flies in the face of what the Mutasa family endured untold pain and suffering for during the struggle for independence in Zimbabwe. If the story of Zimbabwe is to be told, no-one can ever run away from the fact that one of the most unique features of the liberation struggle were families that went into the liberation struggle as a family unit and the names that quickly come to mind are the Mutasa, Chitepo, Malianga, Moyo, Sithole, Mawema and Chinamano families. The Mutasa family gave its father, mother and sons to the liberation cause and not so many people can easily erase that in our memories. But the struggle the Mutasa family was fighting for was a principled one based on set goals chief of which were democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Unfortunately Martin Mutasa’s decision to hang on with dubious characters and opportunists like Themba Mliswa [whose family credentials in the struggle for independence start post-2000 with their own self-serving invasions of productive farms they then go on to completely run down; leaving a trail of redundant farm-workers and starving families], was at the expense of those principles.
The police cannot allow people to invade firms in the name of indigenisation and even though I come from a similar background of a revolutionary tradition, I do not believe it is enriching to engage in such activities that fundamentally go against what Minister Mutasa and other liberation fighters that also include my own father, mother, brother and uncles, fought for. There is a time to call off these privileges, there must be a stop to excesses and Zimbabwe needs to restore itself and respect its own institutions. Surely the police has been found on the wrong in the past and I would have been the first to castigate them had Martin Mutasa been arrested wrongfully. But the interference of Minister Mutasa, a father figure not only to Martin, but to our contemporary history, flies in the face of all the sacrifices that heroes present and departed sacrificed for. In the same light I want to register my complete disappointment with co-Minister of Home Affairs Theresa Makone. Zimbabwe will quickly lose confidence in a Home Affairs Minister who thinks her role is to remove from lawful custody by coercion, relatives of fellow ministers who would have been lawfully detained for disrespecting property laws.
There is a call for Theresa Makone to understand due process. In a country the police ought to exist as an arm of government that enforces the law and while the home affairs minister is accountable for their actions, she is not expected to supervise personnel and she can never enter police stations to remove detained people from lawful custody whatever the intention, good or bad. Those in the position of Martin Mutasa should instruct defence lawyers if they are challenging their detention. A Minister cannot be that lawyer and surely a minister of home affairs cannot act like a traditional leader using prerogative powers to discharge willy-nilly those she likes and condemn those she doesn’t want to custody. To allow that will condemn the country to dark ages and surely Minister Makone must reflect.
The attitude of Theresa Makone must send shivers down the spine of every Zimbabwean as we contemplate the future scenarios as regards the work of police. If she could do so to people like Themba Mliswa, Martin Mutasa etc what will stop her from trying to release her own relative if they are accused of heinous crimes such as murder or rape? It seems there is a demonstrated clear failure to understand the role of minister. The role of minister does not operate to bully institutions and citizens into one’s whims, rather it exists to facilitate the smooth running of government departments for the common good of the citizenry. In concluding, I call the two ministers to duty and ask them to reflect and challenge them to apologise to the Zimbabwean public for steps too far travelled. I also call Zimbabweans to learn from the debacle and remain vigilant about the continued abuse of power even under the Inclusive Government. We were told that things will be done differently by MDC-T, the actions of Theresa Makone who is a senior member of the MDC-T tell a completely different story. Power corrupts but in the case of Theresa Makone the velocity of the corruption cannot even find space in the Guinness Book of Records for its incredibility.
Julius Sai MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk 07529705413
CHAIRMAN; COMMUNITIES POINT
Thursday, 1 July 2010
EXPULSIONS AND DEMOTIONS IN MDC-T: SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG WITH THE TSVANGIRAYI NARRATIVE: JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
EXPULSIONS AND DEMOTIONS IN MDC-T: SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG WITH THE TSVANGIRAYI NARRATIVE: JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
Interim ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa recently said Prime Minister Tsvangirai is the same as President Robert Mugabe: http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-2751-PM+no+better+than+Mugabe+Dabengwa/news.aspx
Well from the MDC-T perspective this seems to be a good thing. They cannot deny that because senior MDC-T officials said of President Mugabe at the start of the Inclusive Government: “We misunderstood him”. To me that statement is a resounding endorsement of President Mugabe and the policies of his government including Gukurahundi; violent farm invasions, the arbitrary arrests of MDC members and social justice campaigners including Morgan Tsvangirai himself. It also means there is no incentive for the MDC to try and reign in perpetrators of atrocities and human rights abuses. According to MDC-T all those people understood President Robert Mugabe before them and therefore they cannot be punished for being enlightened earlier on. The fact that their own enlightenment was slow in coming actually makes their “punishment” by those like Comrade Chinotimba who were quick to understand President Mugabe , a good wake-up call and therefore all those people we thought were committing crimes were actually working for a right cause by trying to make the ignorant understand a man they wrongfully misunderstood.
Enough of that, and to the cabinet reshuffle! I am not going to challenge the Prime Minister’s right to appoint. Well, that is his role and surely I have said again and again that in a true democracy there can never be room for revolutionary aristocracy. People cannot keep their jobs even when they are underperforming, just because of who they are and what they did in the past. I believe the reasons for the demotions or sackings were purely meritocratic rather than to try and settle scores.
But I am writing about the Prime Minister’s role in the party. For the fourth time I seem to be hearing that the President of MDC-T has the right to designate party officials into roles. To put it into perspective when the “debacle” with Tendai Biti was referred to the party’s National Executive Committee it was later reported that Tsvangirai as the President of the Party had decided to take some of the responsibilities of Biti as Secretary General because it seemed there was too much in Biti’s plate. And Fidelis Mhashu, Elias Mudzuri and Thamsanqa Mahlangu were all dropped so that they strengthened the party. I am not so sure if I am the only one not understanding this. Maybe I am losing it: “Sai, Moyo,Tate Dewa? Mandla, muisana!”
For whatever it is Tsvangirai in his role as the President of MDC-T cannot designate Fidelis Mhashu to go and sort out Chitungwiza, no, where does he get those powers? And Tsvangirai cannot command Elias Mudzuri, an elected official of the party to do a duty in that capacity. In the case of Chitungwiza or any province the National Executive Council should act through a report of the National Chairman and the National Organising Secretary and empower Mudzuri or any other official to sort out things there. It cannot come from one individual. Biti’s “wings cannot be clipped” by Tsangirai. The office of the Secretary General is supposed to be constitutional and elected and the duties are provided for in their party’s constitution. If Morgan Tsvangirai as a member of the party is not happy with the powers that the post of Secretary General has then he has to air his views at the National Congress as it is the National Congress that has the powers to amend the constitution and change the roles of post-holders. The fact that the President of the party is being allowed to reappoint and redefine roles that only a properly constituted congress can do flies in the face of transparency and must call every interested person to question the seriousness of MDC-T as a political party willing to bring change to the politics of Zimbabwe. If those powers are some of the prerogatives Morgan Tsvangirai now has in MDC-T then there simply is no political party to talk of. MDC-T will therefore be a project; just like Mavambo was, in support of an individual and that individual is acting independently.
That brings me to the issue I have always talked of and which makes me really uncomfortable on my political allegiances. The name of the party; MDC-Tsvangirayi: to what extent does it affect the whole project? I think it does because in essence members of MDC-Tsvangirayi are acting for the good of Tsvangirayi. They exist because of him because he is the organisation. Most will find it uncomfortable and say but the names Movement for Democratic Change mean that the project is not personalised but a party. I beg to differ and I do so strongly. Morgan Tsvangirayi does not even need to put the name Morgan to the name to make MDC-Tsvangirayi a purely Tsvangirai thing even where the names Movement for Democratic Change are present. He can claim the letters MDC as his own initials and no-one can deny it if he says he has three names Movement Democratic and Change. Then his identity will be Mr Movement Democratic Change Tsvangirai with Tsvangirai as the surname and the other three as the first names. We have people with such names in Africa isn’t it? MDC-Tsvangirayi is slowly showing its character; it has become a person’s project and Morgan Tsvangirai has the right to hire and fire personnel in a party that is called after him. It is his movement; his foundation marketing his own principles and those who are voted into power through the name MDC-T exist in those positions because of him. They have to advance his whims.
It is sad though that because of expediency a lot of people in the ranks of MDC-T are failing to challenge that. Morgan Tsvangirai has done a lot for Zimbabwe. He has done a lot for democracy, accountability and transparency. To leave him fall into disgrace in our eyes is not being responsible. Someone must tell him that the path he is travelling is wrong. A political party or movement exists for the nation, not for a family. It is a national project and that must be followed. Its constitution is its body of ethics and must be adhered to. Membership is its pillar; they have to be respected and the leaders they choose must exist in the roles they were given and only them, through their congress, must recall them or disenfranchise them. The name Tsvangirai has become historic, it is a Zimbabwean identity in its own right, but it can choose to be a good or bad Zimbabwean identity. If Tsvangirai falls from grace we will all be complicit and all of those who were his colleagues will be identified as the hyprocrites who criticised ZANU PF and went on to do the same things. Someone must tell him that the party can never be called after him, it is too old to be done now. Power corrupts but we must make sure that it does not corrupt one of us this openly. The President must lead the party not interfere with the democratic process by unconstitutionally reassigning what other elected officials should do. He has the potential to be a good leader we can all be proud of, we are collectively responsible for his failure!!
JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 07529705413
Interim ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa recently said Prime Minister Tsvangirai is the same as President Robert Mugabe: http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-2751-PM+no+better+than+Mugabe+Dabengwa/news.aspx
Well from the MDC-T perspective this seems to be a good thing. They cannot deny that because senior MDC-T officials said of President Mugabe at the start of the Inclusive Government: “We misunderstood him”. To me that statement is a resounding endorsement of President Mugabe and the policies of his government including Gukurahundi; violent farm invasions, the arbitrary arrests of MDC members and social justice campaigners including Morgan Tsvangirai himself. It also means there is no incentive for the MDC to try and reign in perpetrators of atrocities and human rights abuses. According to MDC-T all those people understood President Robert Mugabe before them and therefore they cannot be punished for being enlightened earlier on. The fact that their own enlightenment was slow in coming actually makes their “punishment” by those like Comrade Chinotimba who were quick to understand President Mugabe , a good wake-up call and therefore all those people we thought were committing crimes were actually working for a right cause by trying to make the ignorant understand a man they wrongfully misunderstood.
Enough of that, and to the cabinet reshuffle! I am not going to challenge the Prime Minister’s right to appoint. Well, that is his role and surely I have said again and again that in a true democracy there can never be room for revolutionary aristocracy. People cannot keep their jobs even when they are underperforming, just because of who they are and what they did in the past. I believe the reasons for the demotions or sackings were purely meritocratic rather than to try and settle scores.
But I am writing about the Prime Minister’s role in the party. For the fourth time I seem to be hearing that the President of MDC-T has the right to designate party officials into roles. To put it into perspective when the “debacle” with Tendai Biti was referred to the party’s National Executive Committee it was later reported that Tsvangirai as the President of the Party had decided to take some of the responsibilities of Biti as Secretary General because it seemed there was too much in Biti’s plate. And Fidelis Mhashu, Elias Mudzuri and Thamsanqa Mahlangu were all dropped so that they strengthened the party. I am not so sure if I am the only one not understanding this. Maybe I am losing it: “Sai, Moyo,Tate Dewa? Mandla, muisana!”
For whatever it is Tsvangirai in his role as the President of MDC-T cannot designate Fidelis Mhashu to go and sort out Chitungwiza, no, where does he get those powers? And Tsvangirai cannot command Elias Mudzuri, an elected official of the party to do a duty in that capacity. In the case of Chitungwiza or any province the National Executive Council should act through a report of the National Chairman and the National Organising Secretary and empower Mudzuri or any other official to sort out things there. It cannot come from one individual. Biti’s “wings cannot be clipped” by Tsangirai. The office of the Secretary General is supposed to be constitutional and elected and the duties are provided for in their party’s constitution. If Morgan Tsvangirai as a member of the party is not happy with the powers that the post of Secretary General has then he has to air his views at the National Congress as it is the National Congress that has the powers to amend the constitution and change the roles of post-holders. The fact that the President of the party is being allowed to reappoint and redefine roles that only a properly constituted congress can do flies in the face of transparency and must call every interested person to question the seriousness of MDC-T as a political party willing to bring change to the politics of Zimbabwe. If those powers are some of the prerogatives Morgan Tsvangirai now has in MDC-T then there simply is no political party to talk of. MDC-T will therefore be a project; just like Mavambo was, in support of an individual and that individual is acting independently.
That brings me to the issue I have always talked of and which makes me really uncomfortable on my political allegiances. The name of the party; MDC-Tsvangirayi: to what extent does it affect the whole project? I think it does because in essence members of MDC-Tsvangirayi are acting for the good of Tsvangirayi. They exist because of him because he is the organisation. Most will find it uncomfortable and say but the names Movement for Democratic Change mean that the project is not personalised but a party. I beg to differ and I do so strongly. Morgan Tsvangirayi does not even need to put the name Morgan to the name to make MDC-Tsvangirayi a purely Tsvangirai thing even where the names Movement for Democratic Change are present. He can claim the letters MDC as his own initials and no-one can deny it if he says he has three names Movement Democratic and Change. Then his identity will be Mr Movement Democratic Change Tsvangirai with Tsvangirai as the surname and the other three as the first names. We have people with such names in Africa isn’t it? MDC-Tsvangirayi is slowly showing its character; it has become a person’s project and Morgan Tsvangirai has the right to hire and fire personnel in a party that is called after him. It is his movement; his foundation marketing his own principles and those who are voted into power through the name MDC-T exist in those positions because of him. They have to advance his whims.
It is sad though that because of expediency a lot of people in the ranks of MDC-T are failing to challenge that. Morgan Tsvangirai has done a lot for Zimbabwe. He has done a lot for democracy, accountability and transparency. To leave him fall into disgrace in our eyes is not being responsible. Someone must tell him that the path he is travelling is wrong. A political party or movement exists for the nation, not for a family. It is a national project and that must be followed. Its constitution is its body of ethics and must be adhered to. Membership is its pillar; they have to be respected and the leaders they choose must exist in the roles they were given and only them, through their congress, must recall them or disenfranchise them. The name Tsvangirai has become historic, it is a Zimbabwean identity in its own right, but it can choose to be a good or bad Zimbabwean identity. If Tsvangirai falls from grace we will all be complicit and all of those who were his colleagues will be identified as the hyprocrites who criticised ZANU PF and went on to do the same things. Someone must tell him that the party can never be called after him, it is too old to be done now. Power corrupts but we must make sure that it does not corrupt one of us this openly. The President must lead the party not interfere with the democratic process by unconstitutionally reassigning what other elected officials should do. He has the potential to be a good leader we can all be proud of, we are collectively responsible for his failure!!
JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 07529705413
Monday, 28 June 2010
THE VIOLATION OF MITCHELL RYAN: EXCERPT
THE VIOLATION OF MITCHELL RYAN:
BY JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
She wept again, staring at the men who were supposed to help her. They too stared at her, and stared at one another as if they were cross-referencing. Her face was sullen, a sadness bulging as the grieving and sobbing ruptured with an energy that seemed to be sourced from an uncapped reservoir. The more they tried to comfort her, the more she wept and the clearly fragile modern British walls surrendered the cutlery that sat on the desks so that each time she wept, they shook with a cluttering noise just as if it was a tremor moment seizing the entire room.
The police station resembled nothing but a cemetery as four uniformed police officers looked pathetic and helpless in the face of a continuously weeping woman they could not even comfort. She kept on pointing at her legs, clearly indicative in a confusing narrative that was disturbingly backed by a sobbing interlude. She was clearly not sorry for her own state but was protesting to the on-looking officers of Her Majesty’s peace who seemed both helpless and uncaring, depending on which angle one came from.
They seemed detached from the woman who was clad in a revealing mini-skirt which left her crimson thighs exposed......and even her red thong was exposed or it was not even there because it seemed to tell of departing seams and tethering. “Yes I walk the night, yeah I am not perfect but when I haven’t agreed why should I be taken by force?” she would say every time she managed to defeat the urge to sob. “Calm down, just do, you have had one too many. We are here to help but you don’t know what you are talking about” the tall, authoritative police officer among the four would say. He seemed to be leading the team, giving orders. “I know what I am saying you can’t calm me down. The man I showed you is the one who lay with me, I am not stupid.....” Her heavy accent told of a northern upbringing and she had the big frame, cut to perfection....that size which is flawless, a unique posture that caught the eye with the perfection of the sound of a thoroughly-practised opera to the ear. She had a posture pleasing to the eye; beauty, tallness, good pedicure, excellent manicure...all packed, arranged and exhibited in a revealing manner for the good of the eye. There was a Viking presence in her phenotype and as she protested continuously and unstoppable there seemed to be a Viking inherence in her genotype too! “Calm down, we will get you a good lawyer if you want one. You have had one too many, the man you are referring to is a respectable man he is our Superintendent and could not have done that......”
And she stared at him and wept even louder and more violently..............
THE VIOLATION OF MITCHELL RYAN!!!
BY JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
She wept again, staring at the men who were supposed to help her. They too stared at her, and stared at one another as if they were cross-referencing. Her face was sullen, a sadness bulging as the grieving and sobbing ruptured with an energy that seemed to be sourced from an uncapped reservoir. The more they tried to comfort her, the more she wept and the clearly fragile modern British walls surrendered the cutlery that sat on the desks so that each time she wept, they shook with a cluttering noise just as if it was a tremor moment seizing the entire room.
The police station resembled nothing but a cemetery as four uniformed police officers looked pathetic and helpless in the face of a continuously weeping woman they could not even comfort. She kept on pointing at her legs, clearly indicative in a confusing narrative that was disturbingly backed by a sobbing interlude. She was clearly not sorry for her own state but was protesting to the on-looking officers of Her Majesty’s peace who seemed both helpless and uncaring, depending on which angle one came from.
They seemed detached from the woman who was clad in a revealing mini-skirt which left her crimson thighs exposed......and even her red thong was exposed or it was not even there because it seemed to tell of departing seams and tethering. “Yes I walk the night, yeah I am not perfect but when I haven’t agreed why should I be taken by force?” she would say every time she managed to defeat the urge to sob. “Calm down, just do, you have had one too many. We are here to help but you don’t know what you are talking about” the tall, authoritative police officer among the four would say. He seemed to be leading the team, giving orders. “I know what I am saying you can’t calm me down. The man I showed you is the one who lay with me, I am not stupid.....” Her heavy accent told of a northern upbringing and she had the big frame, cut to perfection....that size which is flawless, a unique posture that caught the eye with the perfection of the sound of a thoroughly-practised opera to the ear. She had a posture pleasing to the eye; beauty, tallness, good pedicure, excellent manicure...all packed, arranged and exhibited in a revealing manner for the good of the eye. There was a Viking presence in her phenotype and as she protested continuously and unstoppable there seemed to be a Viking inherence in her genotype too! “Calm down, we will get you a good lawyer if you want one. You have had one too many, the man you are referring to is a respectable man he is our Superintendent and could not have done that......”
And she stared at him and wept even louder and more violently..............
THE VIOLATION OF MITCHELL RYAN!!!
Sunday, 6 June 2010
JUST WHEN: SAI DEWA
JUST WHEN...... SAI DEWA
God forbid the wish that you have
Evil breeds an evil child,
Wish I could rear her in another place
Wish I could bear her another name
Praying it stays the same
As you know I always try my best
Just when I thought I was sinking.............
Up came my salvation........................
Bags of wonders all for me
All come and see my resurrection
It’s another miracle happening...........
And you won’t believe you are part of it.
For all I know I can’t stay down
As you know I am not the straying type
Yes they can keep me low
But it’s just for a short time
There is a gap that I can see
It’s just as open as a sea
I know a way to swim away
Just when I thought I was sinking.............
Up came my salvation........................
Bags of wonders all for me
All come, see my resurrection
Another miracle happening...........
And you won’t believe you are part of it.
Just the way you think
You start to shape your own mind
Making up ideology
Coming up with a philosophy
Not in vain, oh not again
I have banked my time, oh not in vain
Can’t put a strain oh not again
Just when I thought I was sinking.............
Up came my salvation........................
Bags of wonders all for me
All come see my resurrection
Another miracle happening...........
And you won’t believe you are part of it.
God forbid the wish that you have
Evil breeds an evil child,
Wish I could rear her in another place
Wish I could bear her another name
Praying it stays the same
As you know I always try my best
Just when I thought I was sinking.............
Up came my salvation........................
Bags of wonders all for me
All come and see my resurrection
It’s another miracle happening...........
And you won’t believe you are part of it.
For all I know I can’t stay down
As you know I am not the straying type
Yes they can keep me low
But it’s just for a short time
There is a gap that I can see
It’s just as open as a sea
I know a way to swim away
Just when I thought I was sinking.............
Up came my salvation........................
Bags of wonders all for me
All come, see my resurrection
Another miracle happening...........
And you won’t believe you are part of it.
Just the way you think
You start to shape your own mind
Making up ideology
Coming up with a philosophy
Not in vain, oh not again
I have banked my time, oh not in vain
Can’t put a strain oh not again
Just when I thought I was sinking.............
Up came my salvation........................
Bags of wonders all for me
All come see my resurrection
Another miracle happening...........
And you won’t believe you are part of it.
Saturday, 5 June 2010
I AM IN TRIUMPH: PREACHING TO PRIESTS
I am in Triumph
I am in triumph
When, as a man,
I allow myself to be criticised
By the one I call my wife
And acknowledge not only
She isn’t my child
That she is an equal partner!
I am in triumph…
When, as a church priest,
I forget my pristine greatness
And acknowledge publicly
That I, too, am human
And
Not only have I sinned
I am a great sinner!
I am in triumph…
When, as a passenger of a capsizing boat,
I can say loud and clear
That it is the driver’s fault
And with me knowing that just
A word of praise could ensure
My safe return to the shore!
I am in triumph…
When, as an African leader,
Holding all propaganda tools in my hands
And with all the backing in the World
I can still count my shortcomings AND OWN THEM!
I am in triumph…
When, as an European,
Revisiting my arrogant past
I own up to the majority of the errors of history
And bravely acknowledge that part of the underdevelopment and poverty in Africa
As my conscious creation
I am in triumph…
When, as an Arab,
Tied to religious conviction
I can still be steadfast in my proclamation
Of the existence of Israel as a nation
And Jews as a people!
I am in triumph…
When, as a Jew,
Remembering Holocaust
And fully aware of a hostile environment
I can still allow the hoisting of a Palestine flag
Next door to my home
I am in triumph…
When, as a German,
Remembering vividly my blameworthy ancestry
Responsible for the persecution of Jews
I try to avoid xenophobia
As a trait of a past not worth reliving!
I am in triumph…
When I stand for the peaceful
Coexistence of Israel and Palestine
The return to normalcy of Africa
The opposition and plain non-tolerance of terrorism
I am in triumph!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Preaching-Priests-Julius-Sai-Mutyambizi-Dewa/dp/0978156730/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1275740332&sr=1-1
I am in triumph
When, as a man,
I allow myself to be criticised
By the one I call my wife
And acknowledge not only
She isn’t my child
That she is an equal partner!
I am in triumph…
When, as a church priest,
I forget my pristine greatness
And acknowledge publicly
That I, too, am human
And
Not only have I sinned
I am a great sinner!
I am in triumph…
When, as a passenger of a capsizing boat,
I can say loud and clear
That it is the driver’s fault
And with me knowing that just
A word of praise could ensure
My safe return to the shore!
I am in triumph…
When, as an African leader,
Holding all propaganda tools in my hands
And with all the backing in the World
I can still count my shortcomings AND OWN THEM!
I am in triumph…
When, as an European,
Revisiting my arrogant past
I own up to the majority of the errors of history
And bravely acknowledge that part of the underdevelopment and poverty in Africa
As my conscious creation
I am in triumph…
When, as an Arab,
Tied to religious conviction
I can still be steadfast in my proclamation
Of the existence of Israel as a nation
And Jews as a people!
I am in triumph…
When, as a Jew,
Remembering Holocaust
And fully aware of a hostile environment
I can still allow the hoisting of a Palestine flag
Next door to my home
I am in triumph…
When, as a German,
Remembering vividly my blameworthy ancestry
Responsible for the persecution of Jews
I try to avoid xenophobia
As a trait of a past not worth reliving!
I am in triumph…
When I stand for the peaceful
Coexistence of Israel and Palestine
The return to normalcy of Africa
The opposition and plain non-tolerance of terrorism
I am in triumph!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Preaching-Priests-Julius-Sai-Mutyambizi-Dewa/dp/0978156730/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1275740332&sr=1-1
Thursday, 27 May 2010
THE ANNIVESSARY LULLABY: JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
THE ANNIVESSARY LULLABY: JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
In the town I grew up, there is a road that always goes east
It does not matter which direction you are coming from
Be it the east, the west, the north or the south, the road just leads to your east
And it is confusing at intersections, you can see traffic lights failing to instruct
And as you go along on your way, you can see it is full of mysteries
Its history is its first mystery, it can never be verified
Even by records, even by carbon dating
Its monuments can never tell the truth
But one thing remains very true
Whenever you take the road you are heading to the east
If we win the Ashes again, we will give the word love a new meaning
Even if the batting was not so convincing
The battling spirit gives you a good win
We make up, and break up
There is a sentiment among the weak, that says love cannot triumph
They maintain there is a streak that once you follow a road, and if it is one that leads in the wrong direction
It can be a path, a crescent, a drive, a way, an avenue or a street
Going to the east, to the west, to the south or the north
But so long it is the wrong road, and you are in the middle you cannot turn back
But I have tried it when making love, I face upright, downright, sideways, to the left, to the right but still come back
Overpowered by the will to do the right thing
Just as taking the road in my old town
Which always goes east, no matter where you are coming from
From your right, from your left, from the east, the west, the north and south
But once in the middle you could still make a choice, so long you had the voice
To return to the your right path
Just like the battling game of cricket; you can watch the wickets fall and the runs come
But if you just remember that
If you win the Ashes again, We give the word love a new meaning
Even if the batting was not so convincing
The battling spirit gives you a good win
We make up, and break up
I can wrong you a million times You can wrong me a million times
Saying sorry in different tones and borrowed accents
Paying tonnes of regret but one thing remains counting
That the love we pursue is flexible
Tested by carbon dating; bringing the same result; burying false dating
It is walled with strong bricks and thatched with beautiful grass
And you know there is a song I taught you
But it’s you who added the chorus
It was accidental because you stammered in the middle of the first verse
Even though I choked, laughing at you, I poked you nevertheless
And together we sung as we lay on our new bed
If we win the Ashes again, we give the word love a new meaning
Even if the batting was not so convincing
The battling spirit gives you a good win
We make up, and break up
JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
In the town I grew up, there is a road that always goes east
It does not matter which direction you are coming from
Be it the east, the west, the north or the south, the road just leads to your east
And it is confusing at intersections, you can see traffic lights failing to instruct
And as you go along on your way, you can see it is full of mysteries
Its history is its first mystery, it can never be verified
Even by records, even by carbon dating
Its monuments can never tell the truth
But one thing remains very true
Whenever you take the road you are heading to the east
If we win the Ashes again, we will give the word love a new meaning
Even if the batting was not so convincing
The battling spirit gives you a good win
We make up, and break up
There is a sentiment among the weak, that says love cannot triumph
They maintain there is a streak that once you follow a road, and if it is one that leads in the wrong direction
It can be a path, a crescent, a drive, a way, an avenue or a street
Going to the east, to the west, to the south or the north
But so long it is the wrong road, and you are in the middle you cannot turn back
But I have tried it when making love, I face upright, downright, sideways, to the left, to the right but still come back
Overpowered by the will to do the right thing
Just as taking the road in my old town
Which always goes east, no matter where you are coming from
From your right, from your left, from the east, the west, the north and south
But once in the middle you could still make a choice, so long you had the voice
To return to the your right path
Just like the battling game of cricket; you can watch the wickets fall and the runs come
But if you just remember that
If you win the Ashes again, We give the word love a new meaning
Even if the batting was not so convincing
The battling spirit gives you a good win
We make up, and break up
I can wrong you a million times You can wrong me a million times
Saying sorry in different tones and borrowed accents
Paying tonnes of regret but one thing remains counting
That the love we pursue is flexible
Tested by carbon dating; bringing the same result; burying false dating
It is walled with strong bricks and thatched with beautiful grass
And you know there is a song I taught you
But it’s you who added the chorus
It was accidental because you stammered in the middle of the first verse
Even though I choked, laughing at you, I poked you nevertheless
And together we sung as we lay on our new bed
If we win the Ashes again, we give the word love a new meaning
Even if the batting was not so convincing
The battling spirit gives you a good win
We make up, and break up
JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
THE MESSIAH'S RHAPSODY
THE MESSIAH’S RHAPSODY: JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
There is a man told in scripture and at difficult times
Literature and orature
He was born on Christmas day
And he died on Easter
Those who revered him sung for him a beautiful song
HOZA-NA HOZAAANA HOZANA
He influences Saints and dies for martyrs
Yet there are no words written on his epitaph
They say his love is big
My mother says the same, my father says the same
I don’t know what to tell my son and how to tell my daughter
About the love of a man who influenced Saints
And died for martyrs
BUT I CAN HEAR WAVES SIEVING MY VEINS
THEY SAY HOZA-NA HOZAAANA HOZANA HOZANA
He loved to walk with the poor, and fed them from his spoon
In boom times and in boon times he would bloom
As he poured a cocktail of love
Treading like a dove, siding with lepers
Not taking them as lemurs which are left to sleep
He filled hearts with happiness
And relieved the sad of their sorrow
Chilling their marrow
AND ALL THOSE WHO REVERED HIM WOULD SING ALONG
HOZA-NA HOZAAANA HOZANA HOZANA
Whatever the meaning of the sermons they preach
To the ears of the faithful and the non-believers
The word of LOVE carries the same meaning
Whatever the language; audible or visible
I know the way to teach my son, however I do
As long as I reach the veins of his heart
AND I WILL BE SINGING HIM THE BEAUTIFUL SONG
HOZA-NA HOZAAANA HOZANA HOZANA
As they grow to find love, in the middle of a challenging world
I will tell my son to open his heart......and make his body a beautiful hut
Looking for the love of a woman who will influence him to be a Saint
To follow the scent of the man I have heard in scripture
I have listened for the umpteenth time
No matter what side you are, but for his love I will follow the scent
And love to exceed the love of Saints, and sacrifice more than Martyrs!
AND I WILL SING THE SONG, THAT APPRECIATES LOVE
HOZA-NA HOZAAANA HOZANA HOZANA
There is a man told in scripture and at difficult times
Literature and orature
He was born on Christmas day
And he died on Easter
Those who revered him sung for him a beautiful song
HOZA-NA HOZAAANA HOZANA
He influences Saints and dies for martyrs
Yet there are no words written on his epitaph
They say his love is big
My mother says the same, my father says the same
I don’t know what to tell my son and how to tell my daughter
About the love of a man who influenced Saints
And died for martyrs
BUT I CAN HEAR WAVES SIEVING MY VEINS
THEY SAY HOZA-NA HOZAAANA HOZANA HOZANA
He loved to walk with the poor, and fed them from his spoon
In boom times and in boon times he would bloom
As he poured a cocktail of love
Treading like a dove, siding with lepers
Not taking them as lemurs which are left to sleep
He filled hearts with happiness
And relieved the sad of their sorrow
Chilling their marrow
AND ALL THOSE WHO REVERED HIM WOULD SING ALONG
HOZA-NA HOZAAANA HOZANA HOZANA
Whatever the meaning of the sermons they preach
To the ears of the faithful and the non-believers
The word of LOVE carries the same meaning
Whatever the language; audible or visible
I know the way to teach my son, however I do
As long as I reach the veins of his heart
AND I WILL BE SINGING HIM THE BEAUTIFUL SONG
HOZA-NA HOZAAANA HOZANA HOZANA
As they grow to find love, in the middle of a challenging world
I will tell my son to open his heart......and make his body a beautiful hut
Looking for the love of a woman who will influence him to be a Saint
To follow the scent of the man I have heard in scripture
I have listened for the umpteenth time
No matter what side you are, but for his love I will follow the scent
And love to exceed the love of Saints, and sacrifice more than Martyrs!
AND I WILL SING THE SONG, THAT APPRECIATES LOVE
HOZA-NA HOZAAANA HOZANA HOZANA
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
ZIM VIGIL’S MISGUIDED “VIGILANCE”: JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
On Sunday 18 April 2010 Zimbabweans will mark 30 years of independence. A day before, the Zimbabwe Vigil, will be protesting to mark the 30 years of independence: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/
The Vigil has lost its feet in emotion. It is easy to say “we are not independent because ZANU PF has not kept its promises and in fact went on to commit gross crimes against humanity”. I suffered both during the Ian Smith era and again during the ZANU PF era and I am so sure I have ruffled a lot of feathers within the MDC [a party to which I am a historical] to convince me that I will suffer again under their own tutelage. During the Smith era I happened to be born to the “wrong family” of liberation fighters. Both my parents were involved with the struggle for Zimbabwe’s independence and I witnessed the restriction, arrest and humiliation of my father and mother. On the streets my father’s name was sung together with that of Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo: “Mutyambizi ibva kumhepo, une kasmero keumhondi! Mutyambizi stay away from the direction of the wind because you are a terrorist” because my father was a liberation fighter.
And even as ex-combatants moved into Assembly Points it was so clear that both ZIPRA and ZANLA guerrillas left some of their combatants out. Some of them ended up at our house with their rifles, guns and ammunition. Even at that age we were made to sing revolutionary songs and listen to Voice of Zimbabwe. Later in this phase of the struggle for democracy I found myself opposing the party that I had grown up breathing and eating and with that also came detention by people I had always known as my brothers and sisters. Hailing from Gokwe in the Midlands I must always say although I was still too young to have suffered personally, I recall the atrocities of Gukurahundi as they happened to people very close to me and in our neighbourhood. Yet I do not believe we can continue shunning independence whichever the political persuasion we identify with.
The Independence and Heroes’ days have a very significant character, the national character. They are not the days ZANU PF, ZAPU or MDC were formed. In the past we have allowed ZANU PF in particular to claim these special days by deciding to stay away. This is counter-productive because it feeds into ZANU PF’s line of propaganda: that forces opposed to the Party are opposed to the independence of Zimbabwe. The fixation with opposing everything ZANU PF does is not progressive at all because sometimes it represents tactical errors from which tactical withdrawal will be impossible. For whatever it is, Zimbabwe is an independent country. Some of the agents of that independence have indeed become our tormentors. They have maimed us, they have killed our relatives and friends, hey committed atrocities and they have stolen from us. But they were not alone. There are brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers who lost their lives at Nyadzonia, Tembwe, Mulungushi, Mkushi, Chimoio, Mboroma, Murogoro and in the bushes of Zimbabwe for the independence cause that every 18 April signifies. We cannot forget their sacrifice. There are a lot of war veterans still alive in Zimbabwe who survived dangerous situations for the independence of their country. That sacrifice cannot be in vain.
We can never forget that because of what has become of our country. We cannot forget Joshua Nkomo, Leopold Mukumwaidzi Tapfumaneyi Takawira, Lookout Masuku, Tar Silundika, Ziyaphapha Moyo, Joseph Culverwell, Guy-Clutton Brock and many others because of what has become of their former colleagues in the liberation of our country. The Vigil is advancing opportunism at the expense of activism. Choosing such a day to oppose Robert Mugabe when we are supposed to be united by the sacrifice of those departed comrades is the wrong turn to make. It speaks volumes of either immaturity or a different agenda or both. 18 April is not the 21st February which is President Mugabe’s birthday. On such a day the Vigil can do anything and it will be justified. 18 April is a different day. I do not think Rose and Dennis Benton, who identify themselves as British, will stop commemorating Remembrance Day and Armistice Day if they were Conservative simply because there is a Labour Government in power. I do not think it will be appropriate if the Stop the War Coalition were to mount their demonstrations on Remembrance Day and Armistice Day. There is sensitivity around those days. There should be sensitivity around our Independence and Heroes Days. If at all there is one thing we needed to do, the Independence and Heroes Days should be the two days people enter Zimbabwe House so that we commemorate together as one nation not members of particular political parties.
I fully subscribe to most of the ideals of the Zimbabwe Vigil and truly speaking I have been and will remain one its most erstwhile supporters. I am made to believe that I sit in the Vigil Committee which in fact is seldom consulted and when it is finally consulted it serves the purpose of simply endorsing pre-conceived agendas which are rushed to a table packed by willing diners to the cookies and cuisines from one or two individuals within the Zimbabwe Vigil power configurations. In fact Zimbabwe Vigil has actually fallen into the same pit that it criticises others of, there has been unwillingness to reconstitute the organisation so that the formation of structures is captured in a proper document such as a constitution.
The Vigil is supposed to be a coalition which includes other organisations such as Zimbabwe Association but there is no evidence that these are consulted in decision making which itself puts to question Zimbabwe Vigil’s mandate to call others to transparency. The organisation now formulates policies but this too is not formally guaranteed in the absence of its coalition partners making all the policies it has made onerous, unilateral and therefore unlawful. There are organisations that the Vigil calls sister organisations again there is nowhere to indicate that those sibling relationships were born out of a formal agreement and there is no written document to show who sanctioned such sibling relationships and the rules of engagement between the Vigil and such organisations. Power in the Vigil has now been dangerously left in the hands of Rose Benton and her husband and they have managed to rein in at their will few protégés who seem not to have a clue of why we have consistently opposed the ZANU PF regime and recently the emerging corruption, nepotism, lack of transparency and dictatorship in the Movement for Democratic Change.
The characteristics of the Vigil be it functional, personnel, structural and moral have on their own evolved to become an organisation but sadly all the years we have talked about transparency and democracy we actually wanted them to apply to others not us and now what we are seeing is a mutation that has brought about several mutagens within the Vigil against the advancement of democracy within the Vigil system. There seems to be a thinking that Canon Law applies to the other church and not our church which is a wrong assumption because the rule for transparency and democracy is universal. The fact that we have had the same people in the same positions and there has never been an election at the Vigil speaks volumes of the character of the philosophy and ethos the organisation aims at. The fact that they have persistently excluded its true coalition partners actually makes it more similar to the same ZANU PF they so much criticise because they are the ones who have always remorselessly excluded their coalition partners in the GPA. I have spoken about this within the Vigil itself but I was ignored and I have promised I will continue speaking about it and this is what I am doing. I am a firm believer in leadership renewal, I have made friends talking about it and I have made enemies talking about it. I know I will continue making friends and enemies because of my beliefs and I really do not worry much about that. Given a choice between excellence and mediocrity I will choose mediocrity over excellence if the later guarantees leadership renewal and democracy. I have always told people that even if Zimbabwe was as successful as the USA I would not vote President Robert Mugabe still because I do not believe any one person should hold political power for 30 years. I am aware of the excellence of a lot of people at the Vigil but they have been running the organisation for too long and they should make way for new leadership. There is no justification for people to hold positions they have held since 2002.
Julius MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA 07529705413 OR mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk
On Sunday 18 April 2010 Zimbabweans will mark 30 years of independence. A day before, the Zimbabwe Vigil, will be protesting to mark the 30 years of independence: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/
The Vigil has lost its feet in emotion. It is easy to say “we are not independent because ZANU PF has not kept its promises and in fact went on to commit gross crimes against humanity”. I suffered both during the Ian Smith era and again during the ZANU PF era and I am so sure I have ruffled a lot of feathers within the MDC [a party to which I am a historical] to convince me that I will suffer again under their own tutelage. During the Smith era I happened to be born to the “wrong family” of liberation fighters. Both my parents were involved with the struggle for Zimbabwe’s independence and I witnessed the restriction, arrest and humiliation of my father and mother. On the streets my father’s name was sung together with that of Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo: “Mutyambizi ibva kumhepo, une kasmero keumhondi! Mutyambizi stay away from the direction of the wind because you are a terrorist” because my father was a liberation fighter.
And even as ex-combatants moved into Assembly Points it was so clear that both ZIPRA and ZANLA guerrillas left some of their combatants out. Some of them ended up at our house with their rifles, guns and ammunition. Even at that age we were made to sing revolutionary songs and listen to Voice of Zimbabwe. Later in this phase of the struggle for democracy I found myself opposing the party that I had grown up breathing and eating and with that also came detention by people I had always known as my brothers and sisters. Hailing from Gokwe in the Midlands I must always say although I was still too young to have suffered personally, I recall the atrocities of Gukurahundi as they happened to people very close to me and in our neighbourhood. Yet I do not believe we can continue shunning independence whichever the political persuasion we identify with.
The Independence and Heroes’ days have a very significant character, the national character. They are not the days ZANU PF, ZAPU or MDC were formed. In the past we have allowed ZANU PF in particular to claim these special days by deciding to stay away. This is counter-productive because it feeds into ZANU PF’s line of propaganda: that forces opposed to the Party are opposed to the independence of Zimbabwe. The fixation with opposing everything ZANU PF does is not progressive at all because sometimes it represents tactical errors from which tactical withdrawal will be impossible. For whatever it is, Zimbabwe is an independent country. Some of the agents of that independence have indeed become our tormentors. They have maimed us, they have killed our relatives and friends, hey committed atrocities and they have stolen from us. But they were not alone. There are brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers who lost their lives at Nyadzonia, Tembwe, Mulungushi, Mkushi, Chimoio, Mboroma, Murogoro and in the bushes of Zimbabwe for the independence cause that every 18 April signifies. We cannot forget their sacrifice. There are a lot of war veterans still alive in Zimbabwe who survived dangerous situations for the independence of their country. That sacrifice cannot be in vain.
We can never forget that because of what has become of our country. We cannot forget Joshua Nkomo, Leopold Mukumwaidzi Tapfumaneyi Takawira, Lookout Masuku, Tar Silundika, Ziyaphapha Moyo, Joseph Culverwell, Guy-Clutton Brock and many others because of what has become of their former colleagues in the liberation of our country. The Vigil is advancing opportunism at the expense of activism. Choosing such a day to oppose Robert Mugabe when we are supposed to be united by the sacrifice of those departed comrades is the wrong turn to make. It speaks volumes of either immaturity or a different agenda or both. 18 April is not the 21st February which is President Mugabe’s birthday. On such a day the Vigil can do anything and it will be justified. 18 April is a different day. I do not think Rose and Dennis Benton, who identify themselves as British, will stop commemorating Remembrance Day and Armistice Day if they were Conservative simply because there is a Labour Government in power. I do not think it will be appropriate if the Stop the War Coalition were to mount their demonstrations on Remembrance Day and Armistice Day. There is sensitivity around those days. There should be sensitivity around our Independence and Heroes Days. If at all there is one thing we needed to do, the Independence and Heroes Days should be the two days people enter Zimbabwe House so that we commemorate together as one nation not members of particular political parties.
I fully subscribe to most of the ideals of the Zimbabwe Vigil and truly speaking I have been and will remain one its most erstwhile supporters. I am made to believe that I sit in the Vigil Committee which in fact is seldom consulted and when it is finally consulted it serves the purpose of simply endorsing pre-conceived agendas which are rushed to a table packed by willing diners to the cookies and cuisines from one or two individuals within the Zimbabwe Vigil power configurations. In fact Zimbabwe Vigil has actually fallen into the same pit that it criticises others of, there has been unwillingness to reconstitute the organisation so that the formation of structures is captured in a proper document such as a constitution.
The Vigil is supposed to be a coalition which includes other organisations such as Zimbabwe Association but there is no evidence that these are consulted in decision making which itself puts to question Zimbabwe Vigil’s mandate to call others to transparency. The organisation now formulates policies but this too is not formally guaranteed in the absence of its coalition partners making all the policies it has made onerous, unilateral and therefore unlawful. There are organisations that the Vigil calls sister organisations again there is nowhere to indicate that those sibling relationships were born out of a formal agreement and there is no written document to show who sanctioned such sibling relationships and the rules of engagement between the Vigil and such organisations. Power in the Vigil has now been dangerously left in the hands of Rose Benton and her husband and they have managed to rein in at their will few protégés who seem not to have a clue of why we have consistently opposed the ZANU PF regime and recently the emerging corruption, nepotism, lack of transparency and dictatorship in the Movement for Democratic Change.
The characteristics of the Vigil be it functional, personnel, structural and moral have on their own evolved to become an organisation but sadly all the years we have talked about transparency and democracy we actually wanted them to apply to others not us and now what we are seeing is a mutation that has brought about several mutagens within the Vigil against the advancement of democracy within the Vigil system. There seems to be a thinking that Canon Law applies to the other church and not our church which is a wrong assumption because the rule for transparency and democracy is universal. The fact that we have had the same people in the same positions and there has never been an election at the Vigil speaks volumes of the character of the philosophy and ethos the organisation aims at. The fact that they have persistently excluded its true coalition partners actually makes it more similar to the same ZANU PF they so much criticise because they are the ones who have always remorselessly excluded their coalition partners in the GPA. I have spoken about this within the Vigil itself but I was ignored and I have promised I will continue speaking about it and this is what I am doing. I am a firm believer in leadership renewal, I have made friends talking about it and I have made enemies talking about it. I know I will continue making friends and enemies because of my beliefs and I really do not worry much about that. Given a choice between excellence and mediocrity I will choose mediocrity over excellence if the later guarantees leadership renewal and democracy. I have always told people that even if Zimbabwe was as successful as the USA I would not vote President Robert Mugabe still because I do not believe any one person should hold political power for 30 years. I am aware of the excellence of a lot of people at the Vigil but they have been running the organisation for too long and they should make way for new leadership. There is no justification for people to hold positions they have held since 2002.
Julius MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA 07529705413 OR mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk
Thursday, 8 April 2010
COMMUNITIES POINT STATEMENT ON UNFAIR ARRESTS
COMMUNITIES POINT STATTEMENT ON UNFAIR ARRESTS
As we approach 30 years as an independent nation Communities Point continues to be disturbed with the maintenance and indeed enforcement of laws that are completely taking Zimbabwe away from democracy at a time when the world over has become progressive and is now moving towards the embracement of democracy as the system of governance in their countries.
Particular concern is on the punishment of behaviour that “denigrates” the President http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-2191-MDC+cllr+nabbed+over+Mugabe+insult/news.aspx which in reality seeks to cushion the President from criticism. In Zimbabwe the presidency of political parties and the country is not a qualification or a hereditary title. The presidency is not a religious title. The Presidency is a political position which is subject to criticism by the electorate. Intimidating people who criticise President Robert Mugabe by jail terms mystifies him personally and the Presidency in general. This will be countervailing to the advancement of democracy that we collectively seek. Democracy is stubborn, it allows “ordinary” people to criticise people in high offices; something that could not be done had Zimbabwe been led a hereditary leader or even had we become a theocracy.
In 1965 when Zimbabweans embraced the armed struggle as a means to liberate themselves, they had a lot of choices to make. They could have decided that the way to go was for Zimbabwe to be a theocracy. They could have decide that Zimbabwe would reinstate it’s monarchs after independence. But the liberation was fought on a platform to usher in a new era where there was universal suffrage and everyone above 18years; black or white, had the right to vote for a leader of their choice. That right also means the right to avail oneself to election by seeking the mandate of the electorate. President Mugabe wants political power he has to be aware that at each time he will have competitors because there are people who also want that power. He cannot blow hot and cold at the same time. Those who want to compete him must not be punished for mentioning that they can only argue with him. His office must be demystified; he is not there because of the “muchero line” or because of an anointment from “Chakona and Maringowe”. Democratic leaders win the right to lead and therefore cannot be upped to the levels of mystiques.
As Zimbabwe continues on the path to normalcy, Communities Point urges the repeal of all laws that are countervailing to the advance of democracy. Particularly we urge the release of Councillor Nyamambi and all those in a similar position, incarcerated unjustly for “denigrating” the President because the President is not an ancient King. Rather he owes his own continued existence to his relationship with the electorate.
As we approach 30 years as an independent nation Communities Point continues to be disturbed with the maintenance and indeed enforcement of laws that are completely taking Zimbabwe away from democracy at a time when the world over has become progressive and is now moving towards the embracement of democracy as the system of governance in their countries.
Particular concern is on the punishment of behaviour that “denigrates” the President http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-2191-MDC+cllr+nabbed+over+Mugabe+insult/news.aspx which in reality seeks to cushion the President from criticism. In Zimbabwe the presidency of political parties and the country is not a qualification or a hereditary title. The presidency is not a religious title. The Presidency is a political position which is subject to criticism by the electorate. Intimidating people who criticise President Robert Mugabe by jail terms mystifies him personally and the Presidency in general. This will be countervailing to the advancement of democracy that we collectively seek. Democracy is stubborn, it allows “ordinary” people to criticise people in high offices; something that could not be done had Zimbabwe been led a hereditary leader or even had we become a theocracy.
In 1965 when Zimbabweans embraced the armed struggle as a means to liberate themselves, they had a lot of choices to make. They could have decided that the way to go was for Zimbabwe to be a theocracy. They could have decide that Zimbabwe would reinstate it’s monarchs after independence. But the liberation was fought on a platform to usher in a new era where there was universal suffrage and everyone above 18years; black or white, had the right to vote for a leader of their choice. That right also means the right to avail oneself to election by seeking the mandate of the electorate. President Mugabe wants political power he has to be aware that at each time he will have competitors because there are people who also want that power. He cannot blow hot and cold at the same time. Those who want to compete him must not be punished for mentioning that they can only argue with him. His office must be demystified; he is not there because of the “muchero line” or because of an anointment from “Chakona and Maringowe”. Democratic leaders win the right to lead and therefore cannot be upped to the levels of mystiques.
As Zimbabwe continues on the path to normalcy, Communities Point urges the repeal of all laws that are countervailing to the advance of democracy. Particularly we urge the release of Councillor Nyamambi and all those in a similar position, incarcerated unjustly for “denigrating” the President because the President is not an ancient King. Rather he owes his own continued existence to his relationship with the electorate.
Friday, 2 April 2010
TWO FACES ONE WOMAN: JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
ACT ONE, SCENE 1
This scene is set at a Youth Forum. It is called the Reconciliation and Harmony Forum. The meeting is officially opened by the Convener.
Ok, my name is Joshua Borg, I am a Danish national. As the Convener of this conference I urge you to openly discuss but I still expect a mature debate. As you know racism together with xenophobia are some of the most enduring threats to globalisation in the new millennium. You are the new generation and you have responsibilities on your shoulders to take the matter forward. It is my expectation that some of you will participate at the World Economic Forum that is on the cards.
[he pauses]
And for the ground rules, you will sit in groups of eight and brainstorm. You will choose a moderator amongst yourselves who will chair the debates. You will have to write your set of points and then choose a rappotteur who will report for your group and answer questions that will be asked from the floor by the audience.
[someone lifts his arm wanting to make a contribution]
Yes, sir. Please if you have any contributions to make lift your hand and the microphone will be brought to you. Before you talk please identify yourself so that we all know who you are and who you represent. Sir, you!
Takubona Mapembwe
My name is Takubona Mapembwe, I am the son of a veteran of Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence. My question is, will the moderator be the rappotteur or it will be two different individuals?
Convener:
Thanks sir, that’s a very good question. The moderator and the rappotteur must be two different individuals. Ok, I can see another hand, madam?
Debbie Scott:
My name is Debbie Scott, my father is a white farmer in Zimbabwe and my mother is deceased. She was the daughter of a Roman Catholic priest. My question is what’s the meaning of “different individuals”?
Convener:
Thank you very much. By different individuals we mean if a man is the rappotteur a woman will have to be chosen as the moderator.
[Applause from the floor: Gender, gender, gender!]
Thank you very much, if we do not have any other point of discussion we may get into the groups of eight.
ACT 1, SCENE 2
[They get into groups of eight and group discussions immediately ensue. They are sat in different groups and both Takubona and Debbie are made rappotteur for their two groups. Debbie talks about how white people in Africa have failed to identify with the continent and assume and African identity. She praises white South Africans who although they have a long and very infamous history of apartheid, consider themselves South African first before their race and has a go at white Zimbabweans whom she thinks consider themselves to be British and not Zimbabwean. Midway through her speech she speaks in both Shona and Ndebele which surprises the Zimbabwean delegation and uses this to further explore the difference between white South Africans as a permanent feature of Africa and white Zimbabweans as being withdrawn. She says the fact that people were still surprised to hear a white person speaking in vernacular was enough evidence that all was not well.
[Meanwhile Takubona's speech borders on reconciliation. Again citing the South African scenario he says the race relations there are being helped by the fact that the black government does not view reconciliation as a favour but an attitude. He gives the example of the participation of whites in sport and also the role that is given to the Afrikaans language and Afrikaner culture which in comparison was not the same attitude in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Angola which are all countries with a similar history. He says whites in Zimbabwe have continued to be viewed as foreigners and are blamed at whatever opportunity by the government. He says the decline of Zimbabwe was due to its failure to live in harmony with all its peoples. He then talks about the UK and the British and how they view their own defeat and colonisation. He reminds the meeting that Britain had been colonised by different nations until the 13th century and that as a society the British are unique in that they see the positive in both defeat and colonisation and says it is when people start to a accept the contributions made by history both positive and negative that they will start to move forward. They both receive thunderous standing ovations at the end of their speeches. We now meet them after their presentations].
Takubona
Good speech. Touching, intelligent, unexpected and fulfilling.
Debbie
Thanks but why unexpected. Because I am white.
Takubona
Yes. You and I know that. The same with the Shona and Ndebele.
Debbie
I know.
Takubona
And from such a very beautiful woman too. It becomes even more touching.
Debbie
Come on Takubona I expect better from you. Every other man will tell me that I am beautiful. I don’t know what you will tell me you will buy me or build for me but I guess that’s your next line.
Takubona [laughing]
Oh no, I am different. I wasn’t going to say that. That wastes my time. I was going to tell you straight away that I have fallen for you.
Debbie
And what did you think I would say to that? Tell me, why these kind of relationships do not happen often back home.
Takubona
I won’t tell you that because you have not yet answered me.
Debbie
I know you want me to prolong it but I won’t do that. I know what I want and I have fallen for you too. But what will happen if we start experiencing problems. Let’s not pretend that this will be acceptable.
Takubona
I know. It’s going to be difficult no one is denying that but we are both adults; educated for that matter.
Debbie
Takubona education has nothing to do with this. Its one of those things in life that do not need anyone to be. We have to be practical. To know that we are entering into a relationship which may be thwarted on irrelevant considerations.
Takubona
Stupid considerations.
Debbie
They may be stupid considerations but they are considerations and they may end up affecting us. You have to know that it is a possibility that one day your daddy may lead some of their comrades to my father’s farm. What will you do?
Takubona
I will reject my father. I will tell him you are not my father anymore.
Debbie
Come on, Takubona let’s be mature about it. This is a practical consideration. In the same vein my father may pre-empt that attack and shoot your father; what will I do? Have you thought about all that?
Takubona....
We have to be strong baby. These are our parents but it does not mean we cannot go against them if their interference threatens our happiness. With love its the two of us who matter in the first instance. We have to be firm babes, and all of them should only support us. If they interfere we will still go ahead and do it our own way.
Debbie
Sure?
Takubona
Sure.
Debbie
You better mean it baby, you have fallen in love with a woman who will be loyal to you and whose love is larger than life.
Takubona
I like what I am hearing.
[THEY ENTER THEIR HOTEL HAND IN HAND SILENTLY BUT HEARTILY CELEBRATING THEIR NEWLY FOUND UNION]
-ACT TWO AND SCENE 1-
This is set at the Scotts Farm in Zimbabwe. It is set at the servants [labourers] quarters and Debbie later visits there. She is generally appreciated by the workers partly because she speaks Shona the main language in the compound. They are merry-making and singing Malawian folk lore which is popular with Zimbabwe’s farm workers.
[Debbie approaches from the farm house and the revellers together at the same time greet her]
Muri bwanji a Debbie kambada.
Debbie [she is also known as Debbie Kambada to the farm workers]
Hiya, I am fine, I am okay. Good music but I have never heard this one before. It goes mbulu mbudumbu, you guys its almost obscene in Shona though, what are playing at? [she laughs and there is an explosion of laughter that fills the room].
Imi a Debbie simuchidziwa ciYao tu? [Debbie, you don’t understand Yao language]. Anyway many people say the same even......
Debbie [interjecting]
You see so I am not alone there. You guys say I have a dirty mind but you can see I am not alone in picking that mischief.
Rade [emphasising]
Well at least this time you have other naughty persons joining you...but you are right its almost there. [and another explosion of laughter in the room].
Rade: [continuing]
It is a new release. Just off the charts [laughter].
Debbie:
Has gule wankulu been around recently?
Rade:
Yes he came.....[interjection]
Debbie:
But guy, I thought we were friends....why didn’t you tell me?
[The revellers simultaneously]
You were not here Debbie and Mandebvu was also very much on our case. Anyway he stayed for just one day. [Mandebvu is the nickname of Daniel Scott, Debbie’s father because he is heavily bearded].
Debbie:[nodding and taking a seat]
Aha-a, teach me the song then. But before I proceed, you are avoiding the first question, what does mbulu mbu dhumbu mean? [and all laugh].
Rade: [with a light smile and flinch]
Park it, well it goes; mbulu mbu dumbu is a bird, ananditolela [has taken from me], cimbalamoto my motor-bike, ndalila-lila ndinde ndalila [oh I am crying and crying]. You see, not what you were thinking. [ And again they all join in laughter].
The singing ensues, Debbie joins in as drums are being played together with clattering of hands. Beer is being served together with meat and ncima. The room is eclipsed in discussion, song and dance. It is a partying mood.
-ACT TWO SCENE 2-
Music and dancing has continued into the night. The mood is suddenly interrupted by a boastful, voice from an equally boastful and commanding white male, Bill Morgan, the farm manager.
Bill Morgan [commanding]
Hey quiet.......Debbie there? There is a sudden lull, uniform lull as the revellers conform obviously scared of the person behind the voice.
You people, someone to answer.
[with very subdued voices]
Vari kubwela Bhasi shuwa........[but before they finish]
Bill:
Shut up, you bastards should not be making noise with your shit-filled, pathetic, disjointed, erratic, ancient songs which have no harmony at all. Damn your stupid.........
Debbie: [interjecting loudly]
Enough Bill, enough, you have no right to say that.
Bill:
Come on, I pay their wages...I am their God, they eat because of me.
Debbie [standing up and walking away from the revellers]
Liar, my father pays their wages and your wages too. You are a worker Bill, that’s what you are. Forget the title you are a worker surviving on my father’s sweat too. [Subdued laughter from the revellers].
Bill [protesting]
I guess your father would love to hear that you are now finding warmth among ka.....
Debbie: [frowning]
So, I should find warmth under your burly? And stop there or I will expose you, stupid racist!. My father is not like you, in fact I don’t know from which dumpsite he picked you. This is Zimbabwe and the new millennium not the 17th century.
Rade[interjecting in low voice]
But, Bhasi Bill......................
Bill:
Shut up, stupid.....what nonsense do you want to tell me......all of you leave at once!
[There are grumblings in the background as the revellers leave for their quarters and Bill and Debbie to theirs amidst arm throwing and quarrelling].
One reveller shouts:
It’s not Rhodesia anymore!!!
Bill:
And it’s not yet Zimbabwe!
-ACT 2 SCENE 3-
In this scene we see some of the farm labourers talking to one another about the problems and in particular, they are discussing about the working conditions on the farm.
Rade:
This farm has kept us for quite a long time now. Generations of my family have worked here. But something seems very amiss now, with this manager that we have.
Oliver:
I must say I really don’t like Bill. He treats us as if we are his small babies. I don’t think Kambanje knows it.
Rade:
You see this is where the problem is because looking at our boss, especially his daughter Kambada, they seem to be different from what we see from Bill. He does not like our kind.
Kupara:
That’s why I always say that we must not let them do what they want with us. We have to stand our ground. Xavier is our representative here with the Union, and we should always air our grievances.
Oliver:
Ah, Moyo, what are you talking about? Union? We all know that our Union has never represented us against our employers. We know that Xavier drinks the same wine and eats the same food they eat. Since the Union was formed, how many farmers have been brought before a labour court? Look at our wages, our working conditions, our living conditions......the union does not do anything about that. The Union is only interested in barking the wrong tree, the Government, and not the farmers who are our employers.
Kupara
They work together with the farmers. But the government too has never really liked us. They too eat from the same place with Kambanje. If they were serious they should have forced him to build schools and clinics on this farm. They haven’t done so because they get kickbacks from our exploitation. In fact it is the work of the Government to build schools.
Oliver
True but these people are making lots of money. I had sympathy for them but after yesterday I am convinced that they are not keen on our welfare. My father and mother worked in the same capacity so did his own parents. My children have begun working for them too. There are no schools here making me think that the intention is to purposefully manipulate the future of our children as future Debbie’s workers. They are being groomed to be vassals in our own free country.
Rade
Yes but can we see what is happening around us? You see we don’t eat independence. We eat from our salaries. Surrounding farms are being invaded and nothing is going to farm workers such as us. After a farm is taken over, they call their relatives from Harare and Bulawayo and give them land and then say they have empowered poor black people. Those who are getting the farms will throw the workers away and make the farms derelict land where no real farming happens.
Kupara
That’s true, Mbewe, but after yesterday, I am ready for a takeover of this farm if it is to happen. We were reminded that we are still vassals in our country and I am feeling the emptiness to this day. You see if we allow this to continue, we should be prepared to have them enter our bedrooms to steal our wives as well.
Rade
White men don’t marry black, poorly-educated, poorly dressed, farm women!
Kupara
I never said they will marry them. I said they will take you off your bed and do the unthinkable with your wife. After that they will abandon her without you even saying anything.
Rade
White men don’t know how to make love. Our women will never love a white man.
Oliver
Come on, let’s not be naive. If white men cannot make love where are all these white children coming from? Did you ever talk to a white lady and she told you that her husband cannot make love? Let’s not wait for them to come to our bedrooms. We have to stop them before it’s too late.
Kupara
I will talk to some people from the neighbourhood who have the ear of the government. They too have been watching this farm and they are unhappy.
Oliver
Bring it on.
Rade
I would rather urge caution. You see our mouths can cross oceans for us but a wise person will always favour a cautious approach.
Kupara
We owe it to our consciences to do the right thing for our children. Let’s go, sleep and see what our dreams tell us.
Oliver and Rade
Tomorrow always comes the next hour. Let’s think about it and decide as responsible men. Good night.
This scene is set at a Youth Forum. It is called the Reconciliation and Harmony Forum. The meeting is officially opened by the Convener.
Ok, my name is Joshua Borg, I am a Danish national. As the Convener of this conference I urge you to openly discuss but I still expect a mature debate. As you know racism together with xenophobia are some of the most enduring threats to globalisation in the new millennium. You are the new generation and you have responsibilities on your shoulders to take the matter forward. It is my expectation that some of you will participate at the World Economic Forum that is on the cards.
[he pauses]
And for the ground rules, you will sit in groups of eight and brainstorm. You will choose a moderator amongst yourselves who will chair the debates. You will have to write your set of points and then choose a rappotteur who will report for your group and answer questions that will be asked from the floor by the audience.
[someone lifts his arm wanting to make a contribution]
Yes, sir. Please if you have any contributions to make lift your hand and the microphone will be brought to you. Before you talk please identify yourself so that we all know who you are and who you represent. Sir, you!
Takubona Mapembwe
My name is Takubona Mapembwe, I am the son of a veteran of Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence. My question is, will the moderator be the rappotteur or it will be two different individuals?
Convener:
Thanks sir, that’s a very good question. The moderator and the rappotteur must be two different individuals. Ok, I can see another hand, madam?
Debbie Scott:
My name is Debbie Scott, my father is a white farmer in Zimbabwe and my mother is deceased. She was the daughter of a Roman Catholic priest. My question is what’s the meaning of “different individuals”?
Convener:
Thank you very much. By different individuals we mean if a man is the rappotteur a woman will have to be chosen as the moderator.
[Applause from the floor: Gender, gender, gender!]
Thank you very much, if we do not have any other point of discussion we may get into the groups of eight.
ACT 1, SCENE 2
[They get into groups of eight and group discussions immediately ensue. They are sat in different groups and both Takubona and Debbie are made rappotteur for their two groups. Debbie talks about how white people in Africa have failed to identify with the continent and assume and African identity. She praises white South Africans who although they have a long and very infamous history of apartheid, consider themselves South African first before their race and has a go at white Zimbabweans whom she thinks consider themselves to be British and not Zimbabwean. Midway through her speech she speaks in both Shona and Ndebele which surprises the Zimbabwean delegation and uses this to further explore the difference between white South Africans as a permanent feature of Africa and white Zimbabweans as being withdrawn. She says the fact that people were still surprised to hear a white person speaking in vernacular was enough evidence that all was not well.
[Meanwhile Takubona's speech borders on reconciliation. Again citing the South African scenario he says the race relations there are being helped by the fact that the black government does not view reconciliation as a favour but an attitude. He gives the example of the participation of whites in sport and also the role that is given to the Afrikaans language and Afrikaner culture which in comparison was not the same attitude in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Angola which are all countries with a similar history. He says whites in Zimbabwe have continued to be viewed as foreigners and are blamed at whatever opportunity by the government. He says the decline of Zimbabwe was due to its failure to live in harmony with all its peoples. He then talks about the UK and the British and how they view their own defeat and colonisation. He reminds the meeting that Britain had been colonised by different nations until the 13th century and that as a society the British are unique in that they see the positive in both defeat and colonisation and says it is when people start to a accept the contributions made by history both positive and negative that they will start to move forward. They both receive thunderous standing ovations at the end of their speeches. We now meet them after their presentations].
Takubona
Good speech. Touching, intelligent, unexpected and fulfilling.
Debbie
Thanks but why unexpected. Because I am white.
Takubona
Yes. You and I know that. The same with the Shona and Ndebele.
Debbie
I know.
Takubona
And from such a very beautiful woman too. It becomes even more touching.
Debbie
Come on Takubona I expect better from you. Every other man will tell me that I am beautiful. I don’t know what you will tell me you will buy me or build for me but I guess that’s your next line.
Takubona [laughing]
Oh no, I am different. I wasn’t going to say that. That wastes my time. I was going to tell you straight away that I have fallen for you.
Debbie
And what did you think I would say to that? Tell me, why these kind of relationships do not happen often back home.
Takubona
I won’t tell you that because you have not yet answered me.
Debbie
I know you want me to prolong it but I won’t do that. I know what I want and I have fallen for you too. But what will happen if we start experiencing problems. Let’s not pretend that this will be acceptable.
Takubona
I know. It’s going to be difficult no one is denying that but we are both adults; educated for that matter.
Debbie
Takubona education has nothing to do with this. Its one of those things in life that do not need anyone to be. We have to be practical. To know that we are entering into a relationship which may be thwarted on irrelevant considerations.
Takubona
Stupid considerations.
Debbie
They may be stupid considerations but they are considerations and they may end up affecting us. You have to know that it is a possibility that one day your daddy may lead some of their comrades to my father’s farm. What will you do?
Takubona
I will reject my father. I will tell him you are not my father anymore.
Debbie
Come on, Takubona let’s be mature about it. This is a practical consideration. In the same vein my father may pre-empt that attack and shoot your father; what will I do? Have you thought about all that?
Takubona....
We have to be strong baby. These are our parents but it does not mean we cannot go against them if their interference threatens our happiness. With love its the two of us who matter in the first instance. We have to be firm babes, and all of them should only support us. If they interfere we will still go ahead and do it our own way.
Debbie
Sure?
Takubona
Sure.
Debbie
You better mean it baby, you have fallen in love with a woman who will be loyal to you and whose love is larger than life.
Takubona
I like what I am hearing.
[THEY ENTER THEIR HOTEL HAND IN HAND SILENTLY BUT HEARTILY CELEBRATING THEIR NEWLY FOUND UNION]
-ACT TWO AND SCENE 1-
This is set at the Scotts Farm in Zimbabwe. It is set at the servants [labourers] quarters and Debbie later visits there. She is generally appreciated by the workers partly because she speaks Shona the main language in the compound. They are merry-making and singing Malawian folk lore which is popular with Zimbabwe’s farm workers.
[Debbie approaches from the farm house and the revellers together at the same time greet her]
Muri bwanji a Debbie kambada.
Debbie [she is also known as Debbie Kambada to the farm workers]
Hiya, I am fine, I am okay. Good music but I have never heard this one before. It goes mbulu mbudumbu, you guys its almost obscene in Shona though, what are playing at? [she laughs and there is an explosion of laughter that fills the room].
Imi a Debbie simuchidziwa ciYao tu? [Debbie, you don’t understand Yao language]. Anyway many people say the same even......
Debbie [interjecting]
You see so I am not alone there. You guys say I have a dirty mind but you can see I am not alone in picking that mischief.
Rade [emphasising]
Well at least this time you have other naughty persons joining you...but you are right its almost there. [and another explosion of laughter in the room].
Rade: [continuing]
It is a new release. Just off the charts [laughter].
Debbie:
Has gule wankulu been around recently?
Rade:
Yes he came.....[interjection]
Debbie:
But guy, I thought we were friends....why didn’t you tell me?
[The revellers simultaneously]
You were not here Debbie and Mandebvu was also very much on our case. Anyway he stayed for just one day. [Mandebvu is the nickname of Daniel Scott, Debbie’s father because he is heavily bearded].
Debbie:[nodding and taking a seat]
Aha-a, teach me the song then. But before I proceed, you are avoiding the first question, what does mbulu mbu dhumbu mean? [and all laugh].
Rade: [with a light smile and flinch]
Park it, well it goes; mbulu mbu dumbu is a bird, ananditolela [has taken from me], cimbalamoto my motor-bike, ndalila-lila ndinde ndalila [oh I am crying and crying]. You see, not what you were thinking. [ And again they all join in laughter].
The singing ensues, Debbie joins in as drums are being played together with clattering of hands. Beer is being served together with meat and ncima. The room is eclipsed in discussion, song and dance. It is a partying mood.
-ACT TWO SCENE 2-
Music and dancing has continued into the night. The mood is suddenly interrupted by a boastful, voice from an equally boastful and commanding white male, Bill Morgan, the farm manager.
Bill Morgan [commanding]
Hey quiet.......Debbie there? There is a sudden lull, uniform lull as the revellers conform obviously scared of the person behind the voice.
You people, someone to answer.
[with very subdued voices]
Vari kubwela Bhasi shuwa........[but before they finish]
Bill:
Shut up, you bastards should not be making noise with your shit-filled, pathetic, disjointed, erratic, ancient songs which have no harmony at all. Damn your stupid.........
Debbie: [interjecting loudly]
Enough Bill, enough, you have no right to say that.
Bill:
Come on, I pay their wages...I am their God, they eat because of me.
Debbie [standing up and walking away from the revellers]
Liar, my father pays their wages and your wages too. You are a worker Bill, that’s what you are. Forget the title you are a worker surviving on my father’s sweat too. [Subdued laughter from the revellers].
Bill [protesting]
I guess your father would love to hear that you are now finding warmth among ka.....
Debbie: [frowning]
So, I should find warmth under your burly? And stop there or I will expose you, stupid racist!. My father is not like you, in fact I don’t know from which dumpsite he picked you. This is Zimbabwe and the new millennium not the 17th century.
Rade[interjecting in low voice]
But, Bhasi Bill......................
Bill:
Shut up, stupid.....what nonsense do you want to tell me......all of you leave at once!
[There are grumblings in the background as the revellers leave for their quarters and Bill and Debbie to theirs amidst arm throwing and quarrelling].
One reveller shouts:
It’s not Rhodesia anymore!!!
Bill:
And it’s not yet Zimbabwe!
-ACT 2 SCENE 3-
In this scene we see some of the farm labourers talking to one another about the problems and in particular, they are discussing about the working conditions on the farm.
Rade:
This farm has kept us for quite a long time now. Generations of my family have worked here. But something seems very amiss now, with this manager that we have.
Oliver:
I must say I really don’t like Bill. He treats us as if we are his small babies. I don’t think Kambanje knows it.
Rade:
You see this is where the problem is because looking at our boss, especially his daughter Kambada, they seem to be different from what we see from Bill. He does not like our kind.
Kupara:
That’s why I always say that we must not let them do what they want with us. We have to stand our ground. Xavier is our representative here with the Union, and we should always air our grievances.
Oliver:
Ah, Moyo, what are you talking about? Union? We all know that our Union has never represented us against our employers. We know that Xavier drinks the same wine and eats the same food they eat. Since the Union was formed, how many farmers have been brought before a labour court? Look at our wages, our working conditions, our living conditions......the union does not do anything about that. The Union is only interested in barking the wrong tree, the Government, and not the farmers who are our employers.
Kupara
They work together with the farmers. But the government too has never really liked us. They too eat from the same place with Kambanje. If they were serious they should have forced him to build schools and clinics on this farm. They haven’t done so because they get kickbacks from our exploitation. In fact it is the work of the Government to build schools.
Oliver
True but these people are making lots of money. I had sympathy for them but after yesterday I am convinced that they are not keen on our welfare. My father and mother worked in the same capacity so did his own parents. My children have begun working for them too. There are no schools here making me think that the intention is to purposefully manipulate the future of our children as future Debbie’s workers. They are being groomed to be vassals in our own free country.
Rade
Yes but can we see what is happening around us? You see we don’t eat independence. We eat from our salaries. Surrounding farms are being invaded and nothing is going to farm workers such as us. After a farm is taken over, they call their relatives from Harare and Bulawayo and give them land and then say they have empowered poor black people. Those who are getting the farms will throw the workers away and make the farms derelict land where no real farming happens.
Kupara
That’s true, Mbewe, but after yesterday, I am ready for a takeover of this farm if it is to happen. We were reminded that we are still vassals in our country and I am feeling the emptiness to this day. You see if we allow this to continue, we should be prepared to have them enter our bedrooms to steal our wives as well.
Rade
White men don’t marry black, poorly-educated, poorly dressed, farm women!
Kupara
I never said they will marry them. I said they will take you off your bed and do the unthinkable with your wife. After that they will abandon her without you even saying anything.
Rade
White men don’t know how to make love. Our women will never love a white man.
Oliver
Come on, let’s not be naive. If white men cannot make love where are all these white children coming from? Did you ever talk to a white lady and she told you that her husband cannot make love? Let’s not wait for them to come to our bedrooms. We have to stop them before it’s too late.
Kupara
I will talk to some people from the neighbourhood who have the ear of the government. They too have been watching this farm and they are unhappy.
Oliver
Bring it on.
Rade
I would rather urge caution. You see our mouths can cross oceans for us but a wise person will always favour a cautious approach.
Kupara
We owe it to our consciences to do the right thing for our children. Let’s go, sleep and see what our dreams tell us.
Oliver and Rade
Tomorrow always comes the next hour. Let’s think about it and decide as responsible men. Good night.
Monday, 15 March 2010
COMMUNITIES POINT STATEMENT ON SAM MUTUKUDZI'S DEATH
COMMUNITIES POINT: STATEMENT ON THE SUDDEN DEATH OF SAM MTUKUDZI
Communities Point joins the nation in mourning Sam Mtukudzi, Oliver Mutukudzi’s son and a budding musician in his own right http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=6503&cat=1. The death of Sam robbed the nation of a performing and recording artist who had a promising career ahead of him. We also mourn the death of Owen Chimhare, his sound engineer and another key talent in the music industry as without sound engineers there is no recorded music.
Together with the likes of Kudaushe Matimba, the late Simon and Naison Chimbetu, Nicholas Somerai, Chioniso Maraire, Prudence Katomeni, the sensational Munodawafa kid, Sandra Ndebele etc. Sam Mutukudzi occupies an historical spot in Zimbabwe’s recording history by being one of the few teenagers ever to record their music in the country and be played on national radio. At Communities Point we value the contribution of every Zimbabwean in whatever sector and do not belittle the collective capabilities of every profession in the country. Unlike others we believe that music, the arts and sports should always be viewed in equal regard with politics and the economy and that musicians, artists, sportspersons etc deserve the same recognition that politicians get and that heroism is not the preserve of politicians only.
We view Respect from a very large angle of our retinas and believe that only when Zimbabweans move to an era of mutual respect, where everyone matters, and every contribution is valid, can our nation start to approach its claim to success with seriousness. As we mourn the passing of yet another talent our thoughts go to the Mutukudzi family, the Chimhare family, members of the Ay Band and all the fans of Sam Mutukudzi who have lost a son and brother, a leader and a favourite artiste. We share the same belief that indeed deaths cannot be controlled but we again urge the authorities in Zimbabwe to begin the process of rehabilitating our roads because they have become death traps. One way of doing the country a favour is to cut the unnecessary costs of aggressive foreign policy and channel the funds to the rehabilitation of our roads and also other infrastructural development projects. There is need for the country to have a clear transport policy and at the moment it seems this is absent with the duplication of roles by local authorities, Zimbabwe National Roads Authority and also that there is no clear knowledge of what exactly the Ministry Transport’s role is whether its telephone poles or roads.
When Addley and I lost our first son, Thaboka, the pain was devastating and today the same devastation is being felt by the Mutukudzi and Chimhare families. What makes it even more painful is that deaths caused by road accidents are not entirely unavoidable, they can with the necessary investment into road construction. To the Mutukudzi and Chimhare families we urge them to find strength in the fact that the whole nation certainly joins them in their hour of need and that they should also take comfort in knowing that there is a place where souls rest when people die.
Julius Mutyambizi-DEWA
NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON: COMMUNITIES POINT
Contact: mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 07529705413
Communities Point joins the nation in mourning Sam Mtukudzi, Oliver Mutukudzi’s son and a budding musician in his own right http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=6503&cat=1. The death of Sam robbed the nation of a performing and recording artist who had a promising career ahead of him. We also mourn the death of Owen Chimhare, his sound engineer and another key talent in the music industry as without sound engineers there is no recorded music.
Together with the likes of Kudaushe Matimba, the late Simon and Naison Chimbetu, Nicholas Somerai, Chioniso Maraire, Prudence Katomeni, the sensational Munodawafa kid, Sandra Ndebele etc. Sam Mutukudzi occupies an historical spot in Zimbabwe’s recording history by being one of the few teenagers ever to record their music in the country and be played on national radio. At Communities Point we value the contribution of every Zimbabwean in whatever sector and do not belittle the collective capabilities of every profession in the country. Unlike others we believe that music, the arts and sports should always be viewed in equal regard with politics and the economy and that musicians, artists, sportspersons etc deserve the same recognition that politicians get and that heroism is not the preserve of politicians only.
We view Respect from a very large angle of our retinas and believe that only when Zimbabweans move to an era of mutual respect, where everyone matters, and every contribution is valid, can our nation start to approach its claim to success with seriousness. As we mourn the passing of yet another talent our thoughts go to the Mutukudzi family, the Chimhare family, members of the Ay Band and all the fans of Sam Mutukudzi who have lost a son and brother, a leader and a favourite artiste. We share the same belief that indeed deaths cannot be controlled but we again urge the authorities in Zimbabwe to begin the process of rehabilitating our roads because they have become death traps. One way of doing the country a favour is to cut the unnecessary costs of aggressive foreign policy and channel the funds to the rehabilitation of our roads and also other infrastructural development projects. There is need for the country to have a clear transport policy and at the moment it seems this is absent with the duplication of roles by local authorities, Zimbabwe National Roads Authority and also that there is no clear knowledge of what exactly the Ministry Transport’s role is whether its telephone poles or roads.
When Addley and I lost our first son, Thaboka, the pain was devastating and today the same devastation is being felt by the Mutukudzi and Chimhare families. What makes it even more painful is that deaths caused by road accidents are not entirely unavoidable, they can with the necessary investment into road construction. To the Mutukudzi and Chimhare families we urge them to find strength in the fact that the whole nation certainly joins them in their hour of need and that they should also take comfort in knowing that there is a place where souls rest when people die.
Julius Mutyambizi-DEWA
NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON: COMMUNITIES POINT
Contact: mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 07529705413
Friday, 8 January 2010
MDC Corruption
MISSING MDC UK FUNDS, “CHEF SYNDROME” HAS FINALLY GRIPPED MDC: JULIUS SAI MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
The news that MDC will finally investigate its own corruption in the UK was a natural consequence to the seriousness with which a party that was founded on the solid promise of change for the better should react to corruption. It is the right course of action and in a way in line with the seemingly “no nonsense” approach that Tendai Biti seems to have taken as Minister of Finance.
However on reading the composition of the delegation coming to investigate the corruption here: http://www.zimdiaspora.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2535:missing-mdc-uk-funds-tsvangirai-sends-delegation&catid=38:travel-tips&Itemid=18 one is left questioning whether this is really an investigation or window dressing. There seems to be no congruence between the tone of the MDC’s criticism of the corruption and its actions. We are told that Lovemore Moyo, the same man who is implicated in the corruption together with Hebson Makuvise is in fact coming to lead the investigations here. The window dressing unfortunately exposes the sartorial deficit of the MDC garbs here, sewn in modernity but exposed for its seamlessness and complete lack of fasteners! Yes self-regulation is necessary moving forward but an internal audit, which is what this is essentially is, must pass the fitness test: it must not only be fair but must be seen to be fair and credible. That one of the recipients of the money and a man actually implicated in the corruption has the benefit of coming to investigate his own corruption shows either a complete lack of foresight on the MDC or their outright disregard of the people’s intelligence or both. Lovemore Moyo, Hebson Makuvise and Thokozani Khupe received funds they were not supposed to receive from the MDC UK and Ireland because they did not hold office as Treasurers of the Party. The question that should be asked of them is whether they actually insisted that the MDC UK and Ireland gives them the money. The three of them need to be investigated inasmuch as the UK Executive is being investigated unless the MDC is now telling the world that there are different rules operating at different levels; that the law that applies on their Provincial Executives does not necessarily apply against members of their National executive. All the three are knowledgeable enough to know that Party money must go through the hands of either Roy Bennett of Elton Mangoma.
Probably Hebson Makuvise could have said he deserved to be paid a salary in his role as Chief Representative of the MDC in the UK and Ireland. There he would have a point because essentially his role was a Secretariat role which should have been salaried. This was my argument in 2006 that because the representatives were appointments they could not have the same footing and standing as political, elected roles in that they should have had a salary, their remit should be in an envoy capacity with little or limited interference with political structures. This has logic as one can never blow hot and cold at the same time and an official appointment could never have the same standing as an elected office bearer. In the later case the role is voluntary, you can not have a salary as a party politician. But Hebson Makuvise can not have a salary that the Secretary General and the Treasurer General of the Party did not know of, his salary could not be a secret in a Party that is supposed to be transparent. Makuvise’s Deputy, Emily Madamombe, who actually was the activist and if surely an appointment was vested in rewarding activism Emily deserved recognition more than Hebson Makuvise who did not even have an MDC Party card until the first mention of his appointment in 2006.
But even Emily does not have a clue of such salaries. In fact all other Chief Representatives in South Africa, Canada, USA and South Africa were not paid. Why then is the rule exceptional where it comes to Hebson Makuvise? Does it mean he was a level higher than all the other Chief Representatives put together? It is legitimate to investigate the nexus between his alleged relationship to the Prime Minister and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and the preferential treatment that he is getting. The struggle will be in vain if its main aim is to create a new clique of “untouchables”. Zimbabwe’s newest Ambassador to Germany is approaching the diplomatic calls with dirty hands. So many allegations have been levelled against him and his cabal to the extent that in the UK they are now referred to as the “Buhera Mafia”. Germany is a country with vast opportunities, it is by far the largest economy in Europe, the third richest nation on earth and the world’s largest exporter. Zimbabwe can tap in the opportunities that abound. We need shrewd representation at ambassadorial level; one that is nimble footed, ambi-dexterious, courageous, transparent, accountable, honest and patriotic. An ambassador who starts his role with a serious allegation of corruption hanging over him, where he is implicated in the kleptomaniac disenfranchisement of ordinary people’s capacity to run their province by stealing their card money, can never be trusted with the possible billions that Germany and its many reputable Trans-National Corporations offer.
It is the same with Moyo, he is implicated, the card money that was due to the MDC coffers is said to have ended-up lining his pockets. It is sad that a party that is keen on maintaining vibrant and credible “checks and balance” could see it fit that a person implicated in a scandal can actually investigate himself. The impression being set by MDC is that they are only prepared to investigate those in lower offices and not the so-called big guys. Something is not changing then, because this is what has destroyed our country already. If MDC wants to be taken seriously as a party that will go all the way in ending corruption in Zimbabwe and not to be seen as a conniving misfit that plies on the gullibility of the masses, Mai Makone, Thoko, Moyo and Makuvise must all be suspended pending allegations. That way MDC will showcase itself as a party separate from the others. They will give confidence to Zimbabweans that they are ready to claim their spot as the party that will promote transparency and refuse to allow corruption to exist in perpetuity. Failure to deal with it will all but assure Zimbabweans of its gradual decline into a party that will maintain the culture of revolutionary aristocracy.
Yes, all have very influential positions both in government and in the party. But as long as they are this corrupt they do not add value to the electorate and MDC’s aspirations if they are still in conformity with the aspirations of all of us: to have a transparent, corruption free country that is led by a credible, accountable and focussed leadership. People who behave the way they did, if it’s true, represent an antithesis to the MDC in particular and Zimbabwe in general. They will lead all of us into an anticlimax and will not help our collective aspirations. A Speaker of parliament who is that weak to the lure of the pound does not deserve that post. A minister who is weak to the lure of the pound does not deserve our trust. I agree MDC may lose excellence in the process. But it has to be consistent in the right direction. It is better to choose mediocrity ahead of excellence as long as the mediocrity is in tangency with principles. Yes, there is past heroism in some of the comrades involved. But their heroism in light of the allegations now seems to have been in pursuit of illegitimate aims. As long as heroism pursues unchallenged corruption as the reward it worse than being a mercenary.
Communities Point pursues an ethos of transparency, accountability, trust, respect and equality. Given our history, the MDC has been a natural ally but we are ashamed in the way it continues to depart from its founding principles. We are hoping that going forward, MDC will see this as the opportunity to reconnect.
Julius Sai Mutyambizi-Dewa
Chairman Communities Point: www.communitiespoint.com ; jmutyambizidewa@communitiespoint.comor mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 00447529705413 or07984254830
http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=6322&cat=4
The news that MDC will finally investigate its own corruption in the UK was a natural consequence to the seriousness with which a party that was founded on the solid promise of change for the better should react to corruption. It is the right course of action and in a way in line with the seemingly “no nonsense” approach that Tendai Biti seems to have taken as Minister of Finance.
However on reading the composition of the delegation coming to investigate the corruption here: http://www.zimdiaspora.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2535:missing-mdc-uk-funds-tsvangirai-sends-delegation&catid=38:travel-tips&Itemid=18 one is left questioning whether this is really an investigation or window dressing. There seems to be no congruence between the tone of the MDC’s criticism of the corruption and its actions. We are told that Lovemore Moyo, the same man who is implicated in the corruption together with Hebson Makuvise is in fact coming to lead the investigations here. The window dressing unfortunately exposes the sartorial deficit of the MDC garbs here, sewn in modernity but exposed for its seamlessness and complete lack of fasteners! Yes self-regulation is necessary moving forward but an internal audit, which is what this is essentially is, must pass the fitness test: it must not only be fair but must be seen to be fair and credible. That one of the recipients of the money and a man actually implicated in the corruption has the benefit of coming to investigate his own corruption shows either a complete lack of foresight on the MDC or their outright disregard of the people’s intelligence or both. Lovemore Moyo, Hebson Makuvise and Thokozani Khupe received funds they were not supposed to receive from the MDC UK and Ireland because they did not hold office as Treasurers of the Party. The question that should be asked of them is whether they actually insisted that the MDC UK and Ireland gives them the money. The three of them need to be investigated inasmuch as the UK Executive is being investigated unless the MDC is now telling the world that there are different rules operating at different levels; that the law that applies on their Provincial Executives does not necessarily apply against members of their National executive. All the three are knowledgeable enough to know that Party money must go through the hands of either Roy Bennett of Elton Mangoma.
Probably Hebson Makuvise could have said he deserved to be paid a salary in his role as Chief Representative of the MDC in the UK and Ireland. There he would have a point because essentially his role was a Secretariat role which should have been salaried. This was my argument in 2006 that because the representatives were appointments they could not have the same footing and standing as political, elected roles in that they should have had a salary, their remit should be in an envoy capacity with little or limited interference with political structures. This has logic as one can never blow hot and cold at the same time and an official appointment could never have the same standing as an elected office bearer. In the later case the role is voluntary, you can not have a salary as a party politician. But Hebson Makuvise can not have a salary that the Secretary General and the Treasurer General of the Party did not know of, his salary could not be a secret in a Party that is supposed to be transparent. Makuvise’s Deputy, Emily Madamombe, who actually was the activist and if surely an appointment was vested in rewarding activism Emily deserved recognition more than Hebson Makuvise who did not even have an MDC Party card until the first mention of his appointment in 2006.
But even Emily does not have a clue of such salaries. In fact all other Chief Representatives in South Africa, Canada, USA and South Africa were not paid. Why then is the rule exceptional where it comes to Hebson Makuvise? Does it mean he was a level higher than all the other Chief Representatives put together? It is legitimate to investigate the nexus between his alleged relationship to the Prime Minister and MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai and the preferential treatment that he is getting. The struggle will be in vain if its main aim is to create a new clique of “untouchables”. Zimbabwe’s newest Ambassador to Germany is approaching the diplomatic calls with dirty hands. So many allegations have been levelled against him and his cabal to the extent that in the UK they are now referred to as the “Buhera Mafia”. Germany is a country with vast opportunities, it is by far the largest economy in Europe, the third richest nation on earth and the world’s largest exporter. Zimbabwe can tap in the opportunities that abound. We need shrewd representation at ambassadorial level; one that is nimble footed, ambi-dexterious, courageous, transparent, accountable, honest and patriotic. An ambassador who starts his role with a serious allegation of corruption hanging over him, where he is implicated in the kleptomaniac disenfranchisement of ordinary people’s capacity to run their province by stealing their card money, can never be trusted with the possible billions that Germany and its many reputable Trans-National Corporations offer.
It is the same with Moyo, he is implicated, the card money that was due to the MDC coffers is said to have ended-up lining his pockets. It is sad that a party that is keen on maintaining vibrant and credible “checks and balance” could see it fit that a person implicated in a scandal can actually investigate himself. The impression being set by MDC is that they are only prepared to investigate those in lower offices and not the so-called big guys. Something is not changing then, because this is what has destroyed our country already. If MDC wants to be taken seriously as a party that will go all the way in ending corruption in Zimbabwe and not to be seen as a conniving misfit that plies on the gullibility of the masses, Mai Makone, Thoko, Moyo and Makuvise must all be suspended pending allegations. That way MDC will showcase itself as a party separate from the others. They will give confidence to Zimbabweans that they are ready to claim their spot as the party that will promote transparency and refuse to allow corruption to exist in perpetuity. Failure to deal with it will all but assure Zimbabweans of its gradual decline into a party that will maintain the culture of revolutionary aristocracy.
Yes, all have very influential positions both in government and in the party. But as long as they are this corrupt they do not add value to the electorate and MDC’s aspirations if they are still in conformity with the aspirations of all of us: to have a transparent, corruption free country that is led by a credible, accountable and focussed leadership. People who behave the way they did, if it’s true, represent an antithesis to the MDC in particular and Zimbabwe in general. They will lead all of us into an anticlimax and will not help our collective aspirations. A Speaker of parliament who is that weak to the lure of the pound does not deserve that post. A minister who is weak to the lure of the pound does not deserve our trust. I agree MDC may lose excellence in the process. But it has to be consistent in the right direction. It is better to choose mediocrity ahead of excellence as long as the mediocrity is in tangency with principles. Yes, there is past heroism in some of the comrades involved. But their heroism in light of the allegations now seems to have been in pursuit of illegitimate aims. As long as heroism pursues unchallenged corruption as the reward it worse than being a mercenary.
Communities Point pursues an ethos of transparency, accountability, trust, respect and equality. Given our history, the MDC has been a natural ally but we are ashamed in the way it continues to depart from its founding principles. We are hoping that going forward, MDC will see this as the opportunity to reconnect.
Julius Sai Mutyambizi-Dewa
Chairman Communities Point: www.communitiespoint.com ; jmutyambizidewa@communitiespoint.comor mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 00447529705413 or07984254830
http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=6322&cat=4
Welcome
Welcome to all. This is the new personal home of me Julius Sai Mutyambizi-Dewa. I will keep all of us posted on all the developments about me as an individual and my personal opinions and writings on topical issues. Glory must go to God, Almighty for affording me the time on earth to do what I do.
When writing and speaking my opinions are influenced by my faith in particular which demands that only the truth no matter painful, can set us free and my experience as a human being as I have existed among others. I have made mistakes and continue to make mistakes, so do not take me as infallible. I also want to be corrected and criticised in order for me to develop to the next level and I welcome such with the full knowledge of my weaknesses and strength as a human being.
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