THE MEANING OF COLOURS. A) THE RED COLOUR Stands for the blood of our heroic forefathers who fought many battles to create our great Nation and State and gallantly fought to risist colonialism during the later part of nineteeth century. It also represents all who died during the war in Rhodesia and those who were dastardly killed by the Zimbabwe govornment for refusing to recognise the Zimbabwe State as is currently constituted. Since 1980 up to date our people have suffured much humiliation, Gukurahundi genocide, marginalisation and domination firstly by the British and now by Zimbabwe once more our people stand ready to claim their land and sovereignty and are ready to sacrifice for such a noble cause and establish The Republic of Matebeleland. B) THE SHIELD, SPEAR AND KNOBKERRIE The Matebele State had a standing army that was well above ten thousand by mid nineteeth century all able bodied men above the age of 18 years and single were consripted into the army. The army was made up of various battalions and spread through out the state. It also had the intelligence unit which had a seperate command structure from that of the army. The weapons used were spears and knobkerries and the shield used for cover during the fight. It was later that the guns were incorporated into the military arsenal of the army. The guns were part of the Rudd Consession between the British emperial agents and King Lobhengula. It is worthy to note that the British forces led by Major General Frederick Carrington failed to defeat the Matebeles during the Anglo- Matebele war of 1896 when the British Imperial forces were fighting using the Henry Martin rifles, maxim guns and machine guns while the Matebele fought using both the spear, knobkerrie and shield some regiments fought using the Henry-Martin rifles. The shield, spear and knobkerrie stand for courage, stoicism and sacrifice to the Matebele people. C)THE BLUE COLOUR The Matabele people have the folklore that they descend from the skies and are children of the stars where there is peace and stability. It was and still is recognised that the sky is blue and we get rains from above and that where there is no water there is no life. So the colour blue stands for stability, peace life and water whose combination projects progress and development. D) THE WHITE COLOUR When the white people arrived in Matebeleland, they were allowed by King Mzilikazi to marry black women and some married the King's daughters and when King Lobhengula sent his envoys to meet Queen Victoria, the emissaries her necklace and photo to Lobhengula. That represented mutual trust, co-operation and desire to bridges between the two races. The white colour stand for white people including the Arabic and Asianic nationals and and peace and we believe through mutual respect and co-operation we can build a better world where both black and white people including other races ie. Asianic Arabic etc. can live in harmony and share the, development, progress, stability and resources together. It is our intention to invite many white people to come and settle in our new Republic of Matebeleland and help to build our country and share the resources. The white colour also represents peace, development and progress and its our belief that both black and white in future Republic of Matebeleland will develop this state to be the future Singerpore of Africa. E)THE BLACK COLOUR The black colour represents all people of colour who commit themselves to be citizens in our Republic. Black colour represents authority, fareness, equality and justice according to Matebele beliefs. So all ethnic groups found in Matebeleland including the Shona people who reside in Matebeleland and desire to make it their permanent home are entitled to equal opportunities and duties like any other ethnic group found in Matebeleland Republic. We are aware that not all Shonas like what Mugabe is doing to the Matebeles. Further more we desire to live side by side in peace with the Republic of Zimbabwe as our neighbour and co-operating with each other in all areas of human endeavours and this would include all other neighbours.
Aliqunywe Mthwakazi....
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