Hundreds of Zimbabwean men are estimated to have lost their lives in a disused mine at Roodepoort in South Africa. The majority of those who are believed to have perished trying to fend for their families, albeit illegally, are suspected to be illegal immigrants from mainly Zimbabwe and a handful from Mozambique. While these illegal immigrants were illegally mining in disused mines, the media blackout on this developing disaster leaves a lot to be desired. As human beings, we have a collective responsibility to value life as a precious gift from God whether one holds privileged immigration document or not. The media is called upon to report on this tragedy and give it the significance it deserves. In the same token, a call on our South African brothers and sisters to extend a helping hand during this hour of need is also made in the true spirit of Ubuntu.
While the world seems oblivious of this unprecedented humanitarian disaster, and the Zimbabwean government is preoccupied with celebrating the 90th birthday of President Mugabe as well as preparing for his daughter's impending wedding, ZAPU seems like the only Zimbabwean organisation to have responded in kind to this predicament. Soon after receiving news of this humanitarian disaster ZAPU structures in the diaspora quickly established a team of party cadres based in South Africa, which was dispatched to visit the site of the disaster. Cdes Patrick Matsinhanise, Raymond Mdlongwa, Xolani Khumalo, Watson Nkala, Jericho Ncube and Patrick Gumbo (Yeoville Branch Chairman) were quickly deployed to the site located west of Johannesburg. The gallant ZAPU members have been camped at the site providing the necessary support to the relatives of the deceased. In Europe and the UK, the Secretary General of ZAPU, Dr Ralph Mguni made a passionate plea to party members to contribute cash towards this worthy cause. Within hours, the members responded positively with a significant amount deposited into the established bank account. Proceeds raised were used to buy body bags, torches, batteries, food, water, gloves, nose masks and odour repellent sprays. However, the ZAPU members contributions are easily a drop in the ocean as much more resources are required considering that only 16 bodies out of and estimated over 100 have been recovered so far. This means that more hard and long hours await the rescue teams on the ground. In this regard, all organisations and individuals of goodwill are called upon to contribute towards helping the well-wishers who are risking their own lives to recover these bodies. Among those bodies recovered, the identified victims are said to be Zimbabwean immigrants from Emaguswini, Nkayi, Gokwe and Kezi among other areas. Tragically, seven brothers from Nkayi lost their lives in this disaster.
This tragedy brings to the fore the reality that Zimbabwe is now a failed state and progressively sliding unabated towards the dark years of our recent past. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that the government of Zimbabwe has made the cost of travelling documents so prohibitive or difficult to acquire or both. As a result, frustrated citizens who cannot find jobs in Zimbabwe have no choice but to cross the border without travel documents.
When they reach shore, they are forced to do just anything in order to survive and support their families back home. To imagine that this is happening so soon after a hotly contested election whose victors are so long in slogans and promises falling terribly short on delivery, is disheartening to say the list. Almost 9 months after overwhelmingly "voting" ZANU PF into power, why are Zimbabweans leaving their country in such droves? If education is one of ZANU PF's long cherished legacies, why are thousands of Zimbabweans reduced to cheap labourers in foreign lands? If Zimbabwe is one united country, why is one part of the country famed for obscene salaries of up to $230,000 per month while the other is famed for producing immigrants born to be cheap labour earning as little as $150 per month or as much as their lives? In sharp contrast, the newly elected government of ZANU PF is not even ashamed of hosting a mega birthday bash for their leader in the midst of such a crisis. Meanwhile, the wedding of the President's daughter seems a more important national programme than this crisis in South Africa. After all, they have obscene salaries to investigate and mitigate by sharing the loot. Just how low can we go as a people?
As if that is not enough, the biggest opposition party in the country, the MDC-T is busy rearranging the wardrobe of its senior official in barbaric fashion. The unlucky ones have their homes bombed just to remind them who exactly is the boss around town. This is clear testimony that these guys are not interested in the welfare of the people but their love for power only. This attitude is a timely reminder to the electorate that to the MDC-T, a Zimbabwean life is worth a little less than an X.
When the ZAPU National Secretary for International Affairs, Cde Edwin G Moyo called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Harare, he was dismissively referred to the Zimbabwe Embassy in South Africa. When he contacted the consulate, they demanded a list of the deceased first before doing anything. Even after the list was finally sent to them, they are still to respond by the time of going to print. Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased are now afraid to identify their relatives for fear of deportation and prohibitive repatriation costs.
While the taxing task of recovering the bodies continue, and in an effort to beat the deadline set by South African authorities to seal the killer shafts, the next phase of assistance will be directed at helping families repatriate their deceased relatives for decent burials back home. The ZAPU support group has promised to continue helping until the last body is recovered or until it is impossible to continue with the operation. In true ZAPU/ZIPRA spirit, no Zimbabwean body must be left unaccounted for in a foreign land. But to achieve this, a united effort firstly from all Zimbabweans in South Africa is required before we call on South Africans and humankind to help. Such times of crisis help separate the caring from the scaring. While the MDC is happily bombing each other and ZANU PF is partying, ZAPU has shown a level of compassion so profound which has left the world awestruck. After this crisis, history will record that a new breed of heroes were born and that list will include Cde Patrick Matsinhanise, Cde Xolani Khumalo, Cde Watson Nkala, Cde Raymond Mdlongwa, Cde Jericho Ncube and Cde Patrick Gumbo. Well done sons of the Zimbabwean soil.
My sincere condolences to those who lost their loved ones. Here is hoping that the government will soon declare this a disaster worth government assistance to the victim families back home.
Mso Ndlovu can be contacted on msondlovu@gmail.com
Aliqunywe Mthwakazi.........
Friday, 28 February 2014
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Gukurahundi killings will forever haunt Zimbabwe by Mckay Tshuma
Amongst all the painful incidents that have ever happened to the
people of Matebeleland, it is clear there is non that can be closely
compared to the 1980-88 Gukurahundi killings. Twenty thousand
people according to the number the Zimbabwean government
agrees it killed, were killed although survivors are adamant that the
number of people who were killed is almost four times that and
despite all attempts by the Zimbabwean government fighting to see
the matter shelved, civil organizations are continuing to press hard,
calling for the redress and retribution of gukurahundi. In this
interview Nomagugu Khumalo(M. K) tells Mckay Tshuma (M.T)
about the ground that Gukurahundi Genocide Survivors For Justice
have covered so far in their attempt to see justice done for
gukurahundi atrocities.
M.T. Good morning and welcome back to Mthwakazi Research
Institute's Question and Answer Time.
M.K. Thank you.
M.T. You have been quiet for too long, does that mean you are
done with the gukurahundi redress inquiry or somethings are
happening behind closed doors. Tell us what program is
Gukurahundi Genocide Survivors For Justice, pushing behind those
closed doors.
M.K. We may have been quiet but there's a lot we've done in our
period of silence. The programme of paramount importance that
we've been pushing behind the scenes is that of making contact with
the justice bodies. We can not divulge which bodies exactly have we
contacted but I must say we're happy with the progress we've made
so far and we can now see light at the end the tunnel
M.T. How has been the response of the survivors in as far as
coming forth to testify on gukurahundi?
M.K. To be honest with you, most survivors are sceptic about
coming out to testify. The reasons are two fold: 1- They've been
interviewed before so many times by different bodies and nothing
has happened yet in as far justice goes .
2- Some have been threatened with their lives should they ever
testify.
M.T. A gukurahundi prayer organized by the iBhetshu likaZulu in
Bulawayo, where Pastor Pius Ncube and Hon Mzila Ndlovu
resurfaced after a long time concealed from the issue affecting
Matebeleland, was dispaced by the Zimbabwe Security Forces. Isn't
that speaking volumes that Zimbabwe regards the issue of
gukurahundi as a really non existing issue and those who are trying
to redress it are just wasting their energy and time?
M.K. It is not proper to say Zimbabwe regards the issue of
Gukurahundi as nonexistent. Zimbabwe knows for a fact that
Gukurahundi happened and as long as this is not spoken about
openly and redressed, Gukurahundi will forever haunt Zimbabwe.
The perpetrators of Gukurahundi whom most of them happen to be
high ranking officials in the Zimbabwean government are afraid of
the damage that may happen to their carrers and personal images
if the issue of Gukurahundi is brought to light. This is why they go
out of their way to crush all efforts being done to speak out about
Gukurahundi. Then we have the likes of Mr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu who
blindly toe the perpetrators line and and throw vernom at those
trying to redress Gukurahundi.
Well, Ndlovu may be singing for his supper but what he must know
is that no matter the amount of intimidation from the likes of him,
we won't back down till we attain justice. We applaud Ibhetshu
likaZulu, Mr Moses Mzila Ndlovu and Archbishop Pius Mvundla
Ncube for their bold stance to speak out on Gukurahundi. They are
showing the repressive regime that nothing whatsoever can stop the
will of the people to get justice over this atrocity.
M.T. The new constitution of Zimbabwe drafted and agreed on by
all political parties, states that, Zimbabwe can never look back into
the cases of human right abuses that fall way behind year 2002,
but recently in Gwanda, Zapu, the two MDC faction as well as the
new Mthwakazi political party M.R.P, agreed onto it that it was high
time that the gukurahundi perpetrators are brought to book. How
much genuine do you think are such calls from the people who
agreed on that article of the constitution?
M.K. I want to believe the people who made this call in Gwanda
~Zapu, MDC, MRP) are as genuine as anyone who wants to see to
it that Gukurahundi is addressed. We were surprised that parties
like MDC and Zapu agreed that cases of social injustices spanning
before 2002 should not be entertained. How can that be when we
have so many bodies lying around crying for proper burial, when we
have tens of thousands of people from Matebeleland without ID
documents, when we've tens of thousands of maimed people in
need of medical care and psychiatric care.
M.T. A week or two, we read about an organization called PAMU,
calling the gukurahundi survivors to come and testify before the
South African lawyers. How much punch do you think that can add
onto your calls for the redress of Gukurahundi, if many more
organizations are joining in?
M.K. The issue of seeking redress over Gukurahundi is approached
by different organisations from different perspectives. We're
tackling it from one angle and PAMU is doing it from another angle.
At the end of it all these different angles sort of dovetail. We do not
have any hard and fast rules on how best we can reach justices so
we keep trying these different routes. However l must emphasis
that us (GGS4J), PAMU and Ibhetshu likaZulu are working together
on this.
M.T. When possibly can we see you guys holding a public event and
where can that be held?
M.K. We'll have our first public event this year in April (round about
Zimbabwe's independence) in Pretoria. It's a march in remembrance
of all who died for crimes they'd never committed ( the victims of
Gukurahundi) in a so called 'independent' state.
M.T. Nomagugu, thanks for your time and good luck.
M.K. My pleasure. Hope to talk to you again soon
Aliqunywe Mthwakazi.....
people of Matebeleland, it is clear there is non that can be closely
compared to the 1980-88 Gukurahundi killings. Twenty thousand
people according to the number the Zimbabwean government
agrees it killed, were killed although survivors are adamant that the
number of people who were killed is almost four times that and
despite all attempts by the Zimbabwean government fighting to see
the matter shelved, civil organizations are continuing to press hard,
calling for the redress and retribution of gukurahundi. In this
interview Nomagugu Khumalo(M. K) tells Mckay Tshuma (M.T)
about the ground that Gukurahundi Genocide Survivors For Justice
have covered so far in their attempt to see justice done for
gukurahundi atrocities.
M.T. Good morning and welcome back to Mthwakazi Research
Institute's Question and Answer Time.
M.K. Thank you.
M.T. You have been quiet for too long, does that mean you are
done with the gukurahundi redress inquiry or somethings are
happening behind closed doors. Tell us what program is
Gukurahundi Genocide Survivors For Justice, pushing behind those
closed doors.
M.K. We may have been quiet but there's a lot we've done in our
period of silence. The programme of paramount importance that
we've been pushing behind the scenes is that of making contact with
the justice bodies. We can not divulge which bodies exactly have we
contacted but I must say we're happy with the progress we've made
so far and we can now see light at the end the tunnel
M.T. How has been the response of the survivors in as far as
coming forth to testify on gukurahundi?
M.K. To be honest with you, most survivors are sceptic about
coming out to testify. The reasons are two fold: 1- They've been
interviewed before so many times by different bodies and nothing
has happened yet in as far justice goes .
2- Some have been threatened with their lives should they ever
testify.
M.T. A gukurahundi prayer organized by the iBhetshu likaZulu in
Bulawayo, where Pastor Pius Ncube and Hon Mzila Ndlovu
resurfaced after a long time concealed from the issue affecting
Matebeleland, was dispaced by the Zimbabwe Security Forces. Isn't
that speaking volumes that Zimbabwe regards the issue of
gukurahundi as a really non existing issue and those who are trying
to redress it are just wasting their energy and time?
M.K. It is not proper to say Zimbabwe regards the issue of
Gukurahundi as nonexistent. Zimbabwe knows for a fact that
Gukurahundi happened and as long as this is not spoken about
openly and redressed, Gukurahundi will forever haunt Zimbabwe.
The perpetrators of Gukurahundi whom most of them happen to be
high ranking officials in the Zimbabwean government are afraid of
the damage that may happen to their carrers and personal images
if the issue of Gukurahundi is brought to light. This is why they go
out of their way to crush all efforts being done to speak out about
Gukurahundi. Then we have the likes of Mr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu who
blindly toe the perpetrators line and and throw vernom at those
trying to redress Gukurahundi.
Well, Ndlovu may be singing for his supper but what he must know
is that no matter the amount of intimidation from the likes of him,
we won't back down till we attain justice. We applaud Ibhetshu
likaZulu, Mr Moses Mzila Ndlovu and Archbishop Pius Mvundla
Ncube for their bold stance to speak out on Gukurahundi. They are
showing the repressive regime that nothing whatsoever can stop the
will of the people to get justice over this atrocity.
M.T. The new constitution of Zimbabwe drafted and agreed on by
all political parties, states that, Zimbabwe can never look back into
the cases of human right abuses that fall way behind year 2002,
but recently in Gwanda, Zapu, the two MDC faction as well as the
new Mthwakazi political party M.R.P, agreed onto it that it was high
time that the gukurahundi perpetrators are brought to book. How
much genuine do you think are such calls from the people who
agreed on that article of the constitution?
M.K. I want to believe the people who made this call in Gwanda
~Zapu, MDC, MRP) are as genuine as anyone who wants to see to
it that Gukurahundi is addressed. We were surprised that parties
like MDC and Zapu agreed that cases of social injustices spanning
before 2002 should not be entertained. How can that be when we
have so many bodies lying around crying for proper burial, when we
have tens of thousands of people from Matebeleland without ID
documents, when we've tens of thousands of maimed people in
need of medical care and psychiatric care.
M.T. A week or two, we read about an organization called PAMU,
calling the gukurahundi survivors to come and testify before the
South African lawyers. How much punch do you think that can add
onto your calls for the redress of Gukurahundi, if many more
organizations are joining in?
M.K. The issue of seeking redress over Gukurahundi is approached
by different organisations from different perspectives. We're
tackling it from one angle and PAMU is doing it from another angle.
At the end of it all these different angles sort of dovetail. We do not
have any hard and fast rules on how best we can reach justices so
we keep trying these different routes. However l must emphasis
that us (GGS4J), PAMU and Ibhetshu likaZulu are working together
on this.
M.T. When possibly can we see you guys holding a public event and
where can that be held?
M.K. We'll have our first public event this year in April (round about
Zimbabwe's independence) in Pretoria. It's a march in remembrance
of all who died for crimes they'd never committed ( the victims of
Gukurahundi) in a so called 'independent' state.
M.T. Nomagugu, thanks for your time and good luck.
M.K. My pleasure. Hope to talk to you again soon
Aliqunywe Mthwakazi.....
Friday, 21 February 2014
Mugabe @90
Namuhla lusuku lwakhe lokuzalwa lwesi 90+ uzobe isidla ikhekhe ejabula labakibo eZimbabwe kodwa icala lakhe liyo thethwa nini??
During the month of August 1980,President Robert Mugabe visited North Korea and signed some agreement for the latter to provide some military training to special crack unit called 5th Brigade which was to operate independently from the Zimbabwe National Army command structure and reportly directly to President Robert Mugabe.
After the pass out parade the brigade various battalions were deployed carefully into the territory only occupied by the Matebele Nation where they killed over 40 000 unarmed Matebele men.women and children by locking them into thatched huts with petrol sprinkled all over the hut and the victimes locked up inside and the hut put on fire.In some cases some were thrown into disused mine shafts while alive and some pregnant women bayonetted and the would be mother ordered to eat the flesh of the featus,while some were lined up and shot at point blank range with AK47 and relatives ordered to dig shallow graves and bury their loved ones and ordered to dance on fresh graves singing shona songs praising President Robert Mugabe.This happened between 1982 to 1987.
While all this was happening over 100 000 women were raped and some impregnanted and over 1 000 000 fled and were displaced into South Africa,Botswana,Zambia and some into far flung places like Australia,Canada,New Zealand to name just but a few.The remaining population of about 3 500 000 people were to face naked discrimination in the allocation of social services like education,health,employment,economic empowerment etc .This genocide cleared the way for the deployment of shona personnel into Matebeleland territory in all areas of social life ie police,army,health,judiciary,education,civil service with the exclusion of Matebele potential employees.All opportunities became the presrve of the shona nationals and the situation has remained as is up to date.The government effected much of this through the policy which was euphemistically christened Black Advancement Programme targeting shona people to replace the departing white people in employement.This was later followed by the next policy which as called Land Reform Programme where almost all the land in Matebeleland territory was taken over from the white farmers and given to shona people at the expense of the people of Matebeleland.The current programme called Indigenisation and Economic Empowerement Programme where white owned equity in companies operating in Zimbabwe has taken a simmilar pattern.Matebele nation has remained a victim of President Robert Mugabe discrimination and marginalisation just like the white people who lost their frams and other economic investiments without compesantion.During this time the British government has been visibly active critising the government of President Robert Mugabe excesses when implementing his programmes that affected the white people and became numb about the injustices meted against the Matebele nation.
Vuka Mthwakazi.......
During the month of August 1980,President Robert Mugabe visited North Korea and signed some agreement for the latter to provide some military training to special crack unit called 5th Brigade which was to operate independently from the Zimbabwe National Army command structure and reportly directly to President Robert Mugabe.
After the pass out parade the brigade various battalions were deployed carefully into the territory only occupied by the Matebele Nation where they killed over 40 000 unarmed Matebele men.women and children by locking them into thatched huts with petrol sprinkled all over the hut and the victimes locked up inside and the hut put on fire.In some cases some were thrown into disused mine shafts while alive and some pregnant women bayonetted and the would be mother ordered to eat the flesh of the featus,while some were lined up and shot at point blank range with AK47 and relatives ordered to dig shallow graves and bury their loved ones and ordered to dance on fresh graves singing shona songs praising President Robert Mugabe.This happened between 1982 to 1987.
While all this was happening over 100 000 women were raped and some impregnanted and over 1 000 000 fled and were displaced into South Africa,Botswana,Zambia and some into far flung places like Australia,Canada,New Zealand to name just but a few.The remaining population of about 3 500 000 people were to face naked discrimination in the allocation of social services like education,health,employment,economic empowerment etc .This genocide cleared the way for the deployment of shona personnel into Matebeleland territory in all areas of social life ie police,army,health,judiciary,education,civil service with the exclusion of Matebele potential employees.All opportunities became the presrve of the shona nationals and the situation has remained as is up to date.The government effected much of this through the policy which was euphemistically christened Black Advancement Programme targeting shona people to replace the departing white people in employement.This was later followed by the next policy which as called Land Reform Programme where almost all the land in Matebeleland territory was taken over from the white farmers and given to shona people at the expense of the people of Matebeleland.The current programme called Indigenisation and Economic Empowerement Programme where white owned equity in companies operating in Zimbabwe has taken a simmilar pattern.Matebele nation has remained a victim of President Robert Mugabe discrimination and marginalisation just like the white people who lost their frams and other economic investiments without compesantion.During this time the British government has been visibly active critising the government of President Robert Mugabe excesses when implementing his programmes that affected the white people and became numb about the injustices meted against the Matebele nation.
Vuka Mthwakazi.......
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
'Mthwakazians' in South Africa appoint first chief
Zimbabweans (abakaMthwakazi) living in
South Africa have appointed Baba Albert
Zwelibanzi Gumede to be their first chief as
they take on a what they term the revival of
Mthwakazi kingdom.
"Chief" Gumede will be inaugurated as the
first Mthwakazi Chief this Saturday at
Yeoville Recreation Centre in Johannesburg
South Africa. According to a statement, Zulu
King, Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu should
have presided over the inauguration
ceremony but has since apologised but
promised to send his representative to
officiate on his behalf.
The statement says that Chief Gumede is the
first of several Mthwakazi chiefs that will be
appointed before a King of the Ndebele
people and his regiments is finally reinstated.
Spokesperson of the coordinators of the
event Smanga Phakathi KaMoyo stated that
Gumede was elected by a group of
Mthwakazi political advocates and other
Mthwakazi Culture and Heritage groups
based in South Africa to be the chief of the
Mthwakazi people in Johannesburg. "Gumede
was elected by the people of Mthwakazi who
have been attending several Mthwakazi
meetings and events that have been
convened in and around Johannesburg
because of his dedication and commitment to
the upliftment of the cause of Mthwakazi,"
she said in a statement.
Gumede was recently arrested with grand
daughter of National Hero Jason Ziyaphapha
Moyo, Ms Prudence "JZ" Moyo at Joshua
Mqabuko Nkomo Airport in Bulawayo after
being found in possession of material
inscribed "Vuka Mthwakazi". They were
detained at Bulawayo Central Police Station
over night before paying an admission of guilt
fine for an offence classed as criminal
nuisance.
The organisers of the event are calling upon
all Zimbabweans of Mthwakazi decency
(Ndebele) who are resident in South Africa to
attend the event which according to them will
be graced by senior Zulu Kingdom leaders
including the head of South African Chiefs.
The organisers also indicate that several
other chiefs from Zimbabwe will attend the
ceremony to honour the inauguration of the
new chief.
"Induna yakhe emphethe ekhaya izobe
ikhona,lomkhulu wezinduna
kwelikaMthwakazi uzabe khona laye
lomkhulu wezinduna khona la egoli ubaba
uNdwandwe uzabekhona laye," says a
statement issued by Phakathi KaMoyo.
What however remains unclear is under
whose laws Gumede will be inaugurated as
Chief because the people he is purporting to
be representing are not recognised as an
official clan by both Zimbabwean and South
African laws and governments.
The Zimbabwean government has clearly
stated over the years that it does not
recognise the purported Mthwakazi Kingdom
which is advocating for the cessation of the
southern part of Zimbabwe out of Zimbabwe
to form a separate Mthwakazi Kingdom.
Several people calling for the establishment
of the Mthwakazi Kingdom have been
arrested and charged with crimes ranging
from criminal nuisance to treason amongst a
host other charges. According to Zimbabwean
laws anyone found guilty of treason has an
automatic death sentence imposed on them.
At the moment three senior leaders of
Mthwakazi advocacy are on an on going trial
for treason and include activist Paul Siwela
who has since skipped bail and just the
country to seek refuge in Sweden.
It therefore remains a mystery how the
South African or Zulu Kingdom leaders will
preside over the event as it might lead to a
diplomatic row between Harare and Pretoria.
Of greater concern is how the said
Zimbabwean chiefs would go to South Africa
and grace the event without clearance from
the Zimbabwean Government. If the said
chiefs attend they risk immediate arrest on
getting back to Zimbabwe as Mthwakazi
advocacy has been classified as treason in
Zimbabwe.
Phoned for a comment an official at The
Ministry of Local Government in Harare who
could not disclose his name laughed at the
issue before putting the phone down saying
his bosses "will not have time to waste
attending to questions on useless things
(zvinhu zvisina basa rese).
Aliqunywe Mthwakazi.....
South Africa have appointed Baba Albert
Zwelibanzi Gumede to be their first chief as
they take on a what they term the revival of
Mthwakazi kingdom.
"Chief" Gumede will be inaugurated as the
first Mthwakazi Chief this Saturday at
Yeoville Recreation Centre in Johannesburg
South Africa. According to a statement, Zulu
King, Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu should
have presided over the inauguration
ceremony but has since apologised but
promised to send his representative to
officiate on his behalf.
The statement says that Chief Gumede is the
first of several Mthwakazi chiefs that will be
appointed before a King of the Ndebele
people and his regiments is finally reinstated.
Spokesperson of the coordinators of the
event Smanga Phakathi KaMoyo stated that
Gumede was elected by a group of
Mthwakazi political advocates and other
Mthwakazi Culture and Heritage groups
based in South Africa to be the chief of the
Mthwakazi people in Johannesburg. "Gumede
was elected by the people of Mthwakazi who
have been attending several Mthwakazi
meetings and events that have been
convened in and around Johannesburg
because of his dedication and commitment to
the upliftment of the cause of Mthwakazi,"
she said in a statement.
Gumede was recently arrested with grand
daughter of National Hero Jason Ziyaphapha
Moyo, Ms Prudence "JZ" Moyo at Joshua
Mqabuko Nkomo Airport in Bulawayo after
being found in possession of material
inscribed "Vuka Mthwakazi". They were
detained at Bulawayo Central Police Station
over night before paying an admission of guilt
fine for an offence classed as criminal
nuisance.
The organisers of the event are calling upon
all Zimbabweans of Mthwakazi decency
(Ndebele) who are resident in South Africa to
attend the event which according to them will
be graced by senior Zulu Kingdom leaders
including the head of South African Chiefs.
The organisers also indicate that several
other chiefs from Zimbabwe will attend the
ceremony to honour the inauguration of the
new chief.
"Induna yakhe emphethe ekhaya izobe
ikhona,lomkhulu wezinduna
kwelikaMthwakazi uzabe khona laye
lomkhulu wezinduna khona la egoli ubaba
uNdwandwe uzabekhona laye," says a
statement issued by Phakathi KaMoyo.
What however remains unclear is under
whose laws Gumede will be inaugurated as
Chief because the people he is purporting to
be representing are not recognised as an
official clan by both Zimbabwean and South
African laws and governments.
The Zimbabwean government has clearly
stated over the years that it does not
recognise the purported Mthwakazi Kingdom
which is advocating for the cessation of the
southern part of Zimbabwe out of Zimbabwe
to form a separate Mthwakazi Kingdom.
Several people calling for the establishment
of the Mthwakazi Kingdom have been
arrested and charged with crimes ranging
from criminal nuisance to treason amongst a
host other charges. According to Zimbabwean
laws anyone found guilty of treason has an
automatic death sentence imposed on them.
At the moment three senior leaders of
Mthwakazi advocacy are on an on going trial
for treason and include activist Paul Siwela
who has since skipped bail and just the
country to seek refuge in Sweden.
It therefore remains a mystery how the
South African or Zulu Kingdom leaders will
preside over the event as it might lead to a
diplomatic row between Harare and Pretoria.
Of greater concern is how the said
Zimbabwean chiefs would go to South Africa
and grace the event without clearance from
the Zimbabwean Government. If the said
chiefs attend they risk immediate arrest on
getting back to Zimbabwe as Mthwakazi
advocacy has been classified as treason in
Zimbabwe.
Phoned for a comment an official at The
Ministry of Local Government in Harare who
could not disclose his name laughed at the
issue before putting the phone down saying
his bosses "will not have time to waste
attending to questions on useless things
(zvinhu zvisina basa rese).
Aliqunywe Mthwakazi.....
Friday, 14 February 2014
Matabeleland South demands Gukurahundi probe and prosecutions
Matabeleland South branches of Zimbabwe's main opposition parties have called for a full probe into the Gukurahundi atrocities and prosecution of the perpetrators.
Contributing in a public debate forum on National Healing and Reconciliation organised by the National Youth Development Trust in Gwanda yesterday representatives of the four main opposition parties all agreed that the atrocities need to be tackled head on and resolved if the country hopes for any reconciliation.
The four parties, Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) represented by Mbonisi Gumbo, MDC T represented by former parliamentarian Thandeko Zinti Mkandla, MDC represented by former Gwanda Mayor Lionel De Necker and ZAPU represented by Mncedisi Tshabalala all agreed that urgent action must be taken to deal with the people responsible for the atrocities.
The forum held at the Gwanda Red Cross Hall was convened to look particularly into the operations of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission as set up in Part 6 of Chapter 12 of the new constitution of Zimbabwe. The constitution states that the commission must exist for a ten year period from the effective date of the new constitution in which time total reconciliation of the warring Zimbabwean tribes must have been sorted. The commission is expected in the period to have managed to seek truth on all past atrocities the country has experienced and pave a way for no further such atrocities happening in future.
The Gukurahundi atrocities of the early 80s in Matabeleland is the immediate example of issues that need to be attended to. Other such issues that come to mind are the political violence of the 2005 and 2008 general elections and the Murambatsvina operations that left thousands homeless.
Contributing to debate, Mr Mkandla of the MDC T queried government's commitment to the commission seeing that its almost a year since the constitution was effected and already time is being lost before the commission has even been set up. Mkandla doubted ruling ZANU PF's commitment to the commission as it is likely to touch mostly on their senior members most of who are directly linked to the Gukurahundi atrocity if reports from enquiries on Gukurahundi are anything to go by.
"ZANU PF has the majority in Parliament and if they are serious about the commission they would have set it up already and aligned all the required legislation as a matter of urgency seeing that the commission is time framed."
Gumbo of MRP stated that his party as believers of Matabeleland cessation from Zimbabwe to revive the Mthwakazi Nation does not believe that reconciliation in Zimbabwe is a possibility and the separation of the country into two states is the only way out.
"For historical reasons it is very difficult if not impossible for the two parts of Zimbabwe to unite and the only way that can bring a peaceful solution is to allow the country to break into two and bring back the Mthwakazi Nation."
Representing the Welshman Ncube led MDC, De Necker echoed Mkandla's sentiments calling upon ZANU PF as the parliamentary majority to take the lead in ensuring the setting up of the commission and its total functionality.
"Our party as a very small minority in parliament can do very little to push for the speedy set up and operational of the commission but ZANU PF must take it upon themselves as bound by the constitution to set up the commission and urgently."
Speaking for ZAPU, Tshabalala also reiterated the need for government to speed up the probe into Gukurahundi as the country remains divided with a lot of questions unanswered around the issue. He further called on government through the Ministry of Youth to urgently facilitate for psychological counselling of several young man from Matabeleland who are still suffering from traumas of seeing their parents butchered in front of them.
"A lot of young people in Matabeleland are still having traumas of seeing their parents killed in front of them, their sisters and mothers being raped and pregnant mothers' stomachs being ripped open and no help has ever been accorded to these young people" said Tshabalala.
Before delivering his speech, Tshabalala asked the house to stand up and observe a moment of silence in memory of all the lives that were lost during the Gukurahundi atrocity.
Discussing on how long back the commission should go in seeking truth and reconciliation the house generally agreed that because of the time frame on the commission, investigations should be from the period after independence in 1980 to date. "If we have to go back to the Mzilikazi period the commission may never achieve its purpose and besides the people from that era are no longer available to answer for themselves issues around them" said a contributor from the floor.
The meeting which has been described as a general success was only marred by the non availability of representatives from the ruling ZANU PF both on the podium and on the floor besides being invited.
Speaking at the meeting one of the participates lamented ZANU PF's unavailability as he "expected them to be the people with the answers to the issues as it was them that perpetrated the atrocities and they are the government also."
Speaking on the phone a spokesperson for the NYDT in Bulawayo commended the people of Gwanda for taking part in the discussion forum and making it a huge success.
"The meeting was generally a huge success and the people spoke their hearts out freely and without any fear or intimidation. We want to thank the people of Gwanda for making the meeting a great success and for their inputs to the discussion topic".
Also speaking on her behalf one of the moderators Ms Linda Mpofu echoed the same sentiments applauding the meeting as "a great success".
Residents of Gwanda have generally always shown great interest in being involved in the public discussion forums particularly those that have a direct bearing on their lives and the development of the town and the region generally.
On Saturday afternoon a huge turnout is expected at the same venue as Gwanda Agenda convenes another indaba to discuss corruption reports in the country amidst reports that the Municipality of Gwanda is paying its town clerk and four other heads of department a whooping $750 000 per year in salaries almost half of the council's $1.8 million annual revenue collection. A representative of Transparency International an organisation focus on the elimination of corruption and graft in the world has been invited to present a key address. A local opposition councillor has also been invited to lead the discussion on how much the corruption in the local municipality has impacted on service delivery in the town.
Gukurahundi is genocide.....
Contributing in a public debate forum on National Healing and Reconciliation organised by the National Youth Development Trust in Gwanda yesterday representatives of the four main opposition parties all agreed that the atrocities need to be tackled head on and resolved if the country hopes for any reconciliation.
The four parties, Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) represented by Mbonisi Gumbo, MDC T represented by former parliamentarian Thandeko Zinti Mkandla, MDC represented by former Gwanda Mayor Lionel De Necker and ZAPU represented by Mncedisi Tshabalala all agreed that urgent action must be taken to deal with the people responsible for the atrocities.
The forum held at the Gwanda Red Cross Hall was convened to look particularly into the operations of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission as set up in Part 6 of Chapter 12 of the new constitution of Zimbabwe. The constitution states that the commission must exist for a ten year period from the effective date of the new constitution in which time total reconciliation of the warring Zimbabwean tribes must have been sorted. The commission is expected in the period to have managed to seek truth on all past atrocities the country has experienced and pave a way for no further such atrocities happening in future.
The Gukurahundi atrocities of the early 80s in Matabeleland is the immediate example of issues that need to be attended to. Other such issues that come to mind are the political violence of the 2005 and 2008 general elections and the Murambatsvina operations that left thousands homeless.
Contributing to debate, Mr Mkandla of the MDC T queried government's commitment to the commission seeing that its almost a year since the constitution was effected and already time is being lost before the commission has even been set up. Mkandla doubted ruling ZANU PF's commitment to the commission as it is likely to touch mostly on their senior members most of who are directly linked to the Gukurahundi atrocity if reports from enquiries on Gukurahundi are anything to go by.
"ZANU PF has the majority in Parliament and if they are serious about the commission they would have set it up already and aligned all the required legislation as a matter of urgency seeing that the commission is time framed."
Gumbo of MRP stated that his party as believers of Matabeleland cessation from Zimbabwe to revive the Mthwakazi Nation does not believe that reconciliation in Zimbabwe is a possibility and the separation of the country into two states is the only way out.
"For historical reasons it is very difficult if not impossible for the two parts of Zimbabwe to unite and the only way that can bring a peaceful solution is to allow the country to break into two and bring back the Mthwakazi Nation."
Representing the Welshman Ncube led MDC, De Necker echoed Mkandla's sentiments calling upon ZANU PF as the parliamentary majority to take the lead in ensuring the setting up of the commission and its total functionality.
"Our party as a very small minority in parliament can do very little to push for the speedy set up and operational of the commission but ZANU PF must take it upon themselves as bound by the constitution to set up the commission and urgently."
Speaking for ZAPU, Tshabalala also reiterated the need for government to speed up the probe into Gukurahundi as the country remains divided with a lot of questions unanswered around the issue. He further called on government through the Ministry of Youth to urgently facilitate for psychological counselling of several young man from Matabeleland who are still suffering from traumas of seeing their parents butchered in front of them.
"A lot of young people in Matabeleland are still having traumas of seeing their parents killed in front of them, their sisters and mothers being raped and pregnant mothers' stomachs being ripped open and no help has ever been accorded to these young people" said Tshabalala.
Before delivering his speech, Tshabalala asked the house to stand up and observe a moment of silence in memory of all the lives that were lost during the Gukurahundi atrocity.
Discussing on how long back the commission should go in seeking truth and reconciliation the house generally agreed that because of the time frame on the commission, investigations should be from the period after independence in 1980 to date. "If we have to go back to the Mzilikazi period the commission may never achieve its purpose and besides the people from that era are no longer available to answer for themselves issues around them" said a contributor from the floor.
The meeting which has been described as a general success was only marred by the non availability of representatives from the ruling ZANU PF both on the podium and on the floor besides being invited.
Speaking at the meeting one of the participates lamented ZANU PF's unavailability as he "expected them to be the people with the answers to the issues as it was them that perpetrated the atrocities and they are the government also."
Speaking on the phone a spokesperson for the NYDT in Bulawayo commended the people of Gwanda for taking part in the discussion forum and making it a huge success.
"The meeting was generally a huge success and the people spoke their hearts out freely and without any fear or intimidation. We want to thank the people of Gwanda for making the meeting a great success and for their inputs to the discussion topic".
Also speaking on her behalf one of the moderators Ms Linda Mpofu echoed the same sentiments applauding the meeting as "a great success".
Residents of Gwanda have generally always shown great interest in being involved in the public discussion forums particularly those that have a direct bearing on their lives and the development of the town and the region generally.
On Saturday afternoon a huge turnout is expected at the same venue as Gwanda Agenda convenes another indaba to discuss corruption reports in the country amidst reports that the Municipality of Gwanda is paying its town clerk and four other heads of department a whooping $750 000 per year in salaries almost half of the council's $1.8 million annual revenue collection. A representative of Transparency International an organisation focus on the elimination of corruption and graft in the world has been invited to present a key address. A local opposition councillor has also been invited to lead the discussion on how much the corruption in the local municipality has impacted on service delivery in the town.
Gukurahundi is genocide.....
Monday, 10 February 2014
SA lawyers moved to tears by Gukurahundi testimonies
Johannesburg - South African human rights lawyers who heard moving testimonies of Gukurahundi survivors in Johannesburg last week have vowed to bring the perpetrators of the genocide to justice.
The lawyers promised to take the matter further with higher authorities in South Africa and internationally.
Scores of witnesses who voluntarily agreed to give evidence told the lawyers that they were still traumatised by the killings of their family members. The hearings came following negotiations between the law firm and officials from the Patriotic Alliance of Mthwakazi Unions (Pamu).
According to one of the officials, some of the white female lawyers were moved to tears after hearing horrifying stories of savagery by the Fifth Brigade. The official said the lawyers could not believe such acts of barbarism were being committed across the border by a black government.
"We are happy with the response we got from our people.
We will wait for feedback from the lawyers," said the official who did not want to be identified fearing reprisals by agents of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO)-the Zimbabwe government spy agency.
The witnesses made it clear to the lawyers that even though they agreed to give evidence about the massacres, they were still afraid of the CIO agents operating from Johannesburg. There have been several attempts by the agents to abduct Zimbabwean activists in South Africa.
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and international human rights organisations estimate that 20 000 vicillians were slaughtered by the brigade in Matabeleland and some Ndebele speaking villages in the Midlands province.
The massacres occurred between 1983 and 1985. The victims were supporters of Joshua Nkomo's Zapu party. President Robert Mugabe has since described the Gukurahundi era as a 'moment of madness' but has not apologised for the killings....
Aliqunywe Mthwakazi
The lawyers promised to take the matter further with higher authorities in South Africa and internationally.
Scores of witnesses who voluntarily agreed to give evidence told the lawyers that they were still traumatised by the killings of their family members. The hearings came following negotiations between the law firm and officials from the Patriotic Alliance of Mthwakazi Unions (Pamu).
According to one of the officials, some of the white female lawyers were moved to tears after hearing horrifying stories of savagery by the Fifth Brigade. The official said the lawyers could not believe such acts of barbarism were being committed across the border by a black government.
"We are happy with the response we got from our people.
We will wait for feedback from the lawyers," said the official who did not want to be identified fearing reprisals by agents of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO)-the Zimbabwe government spy agency.
The witnesses made it clear to the lawyers that even though they agreed to give evidence about the massacres, they were still afraid of the CIO agents operating from Johannesburg. There have been several attempts by the agents to abduct Zimbabwean activists in South Africa.
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and international human rights organisations estimate that 20 000 vicillians were slaughtered by the brigade in Matabeleland and some Ndebele speaking villages in the Midlands province.
The massacres occurred between 1983 and 1985. The victims were supporters of Joshua Nkomo's Zapu party. President Robert Mugabe has since described the Gukurahundi era as a 'moment of madness' but has not apologised for the killings....
Aliqunywe Mthwakazi
Wednesday, 5 February 2014
South African lawyers to hear evidence from Gukurahundi survivors
Johannesburg- Scores of witnesses and survivors of the Matabeleland massacres are expected to give evidence before a team of South African lawyers in Johannesburg this week.The three day hearings began on Wednesday and will end on Friday.
The South African lawyers agreed to represent the families of the victims pro bono following months of negotiations with officials from the Patriotic Alliance of Mthwakazi Unions (PAMU), a smaller opposition party from the region.
Some witnesses and survivors are said to have submitted sworn affidavits and statements to the lawyers.Pro bono, Latin for the public good is when lawyers donate their time to assist those who cannot afford legal fees.
According to one Pamu official, some of the witnesses who had agreed to give evidence before the lawyers later developed cold feet fearing reprisals back home.
"We are calling on all those who lost relatives, parents,witnesses and survivors to come forward and meet the lawyers who have volunteered their time to help the people of Matabeleland get justice," said David Ndlovu, one of the Puma officials.
Ndlovu said those who are willing to give evidence should go to Pamu offices in Johannesburg but he refused to say where the offices were located.
Ndlovu said he was also afraid of the CIO, Zimbabwe's dreaded secret service whose operatives were accused by human rights activists of being responsible for the disappearance of hundreds of Zapu supporters during the 80s.
The massacres of the estimated 20 000 villagers and Zapu officials were carried out by Zimbabwe's notorious army unit, the Fifth Brigade which the then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe christened ‘Gukurahundi' - which in his native Shona language means ‘the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains.'
The brigade was composed exclusively of Shona speaking recruits who were probably trying to emulate Cambodia's Khamer Rouge in savagery.Soon after they were deployed in Matabeleland and some parts of the Midlands, the Fifth Brigade soldiers went on the rampage.
Its targets were Ndebele, Kalanga, Venda,Xhosa and Sotho speaking ethnic groups of the province who were the main backers of Joshua Nkomo, Mugabe's main political rival in the 80s.
Suspected dissidents were shot on sight, others were rounded up,put in huts which were then set on fire, young men were shot in cold blood and their mothers forced to dig their graves while chanting pro-Mugabe and anti-Nkomo slogans.
Pregnant mothers had their wombs ripped open with bayonets attached to North Korean designed Kalashnikov combat rifles.
Mugabe said the soldiers had been deployed to reign in former Zipra cadres who had turned dissidents soon after independence but he failed to explain why so many innocent women and children were among the dead.
Human rights organisations put the figure of the dead at around 20 000 while thousands went missing and now presumed dead.
Ndlovu says he hopes the families of the dead will get justice one day.In 1986 five members of the brigade were arrested for the killing of a Ndebele speaking army officer, Edius Ndlovu and his wife along the Victoria Falls road.
The soldiers were sentenced to death by the High Court in Bulawayo but they were later pardoned by the President.
Aliqunywe Mthwakazi...
The South African lawyers agreed to represent the families of the victims pro bono following months of negotiations with officials from the Patriotic Alliance of Mthwakazi Unions (PAMU), a smaller opposition party from the region.
Some witnesses and survivors are said to have submitted sworn affidavits and statements to the lawyers.Pro bono, Latin for the public good is when lawyers donate their time to assist those who cannot afford legal fees.
According to one Pamu official, some of the witnesses who had agreed to give evidence before the lawyers later developed cold feet fearing reprisals back home.
"We are calling on all those who lost relatives, parents,witnesses and survivors to come forward and meet the lawyers who have volunteered their time to help the people of Matabeleland get justice," said David Ndlovu, one of the Puma officials.
Ndlovu said those who are willing to give evidence should go to Pamu offices in Johannesburg but he refused to say where the offices were located.
Ndlovu said he was also afraid of the CIO, Zimbabwe's dreaded secret service whose operatives were accused by human rights activists of being responsible for the disappearance of hundreds of Zapu supporters during the 80s.
The massacres of the estimated 20 000 villagers and Zapu officials were carried out by Zimbabwe's notorious army unit, the Fifth Brigade which the then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe christened ‘Gukurahundi' - which in his native Shona language means ‘the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains.'
The brigade was composed exclusively of Shona speaking recruits who were probably trying to emulate Cambodia's Khamer Rouge in savagery.Soon after they were deployed in Matabeleland and some parts of the Midlands, the Fifth Brigade soldiers went on the rampage.
Its targets were Ndebele, Kalanga, Venda,Xhosa and Sotho speaking ethnic groups of the province who were the main backers of Joshua Nkomo, Mugabe's main political rival in the 80s.
Suspected dissidents were shot on sight, others were rounded up,put in huts which were then set on fire, young men were shot in cold blood and their mothers forced to dig their graves while chanting pro-Mugabe and anti-Nkomo slogans.
Pregnant mothers had their wombs ripped open with bayonets attached to North Korean designed Kalashnikov combat rifles.
Mugabe said the soldiers had been deployed to reign in former Zipra cadres who had turned dissidents soon after independence but he failed to explain why so many innocent women and children were among the dead.
Human rights organisations put the figure of the dead at around 20 000 while thousands went missing and now presumed dead.
Ndlovu says he hopes the families of the dead will get justice one day.In 1986 five members of the brigade were arrested for the killing of a Ndebele speaking army officer, Edius Ndlovu and his wife along the Victoria Falls road.
The soldiers were sentenced to death by the High Court in Bulawayo but they were later pardoned by the President.
Aliqunywe Mthwakazi...
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