Gweru-Zimbabwe-Justification for the continuous stranglehold on political reforms in Zimbabwe by Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF on racial grounds has been dismissed as 'utter rubbish" and "unfortunate taking for granted" the intellect of Zimbabweans in "understanding the global village political dynamics."
Speaking at a discussion forum on the ‘political impasse in Zimbabwe after the March 29 harmonised elections’, organised by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe chapter through the Gweru Press Club this Thursday, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Director of Elections for the Midlands province and Gweru City Deputy Mayor, Mr Obert Tachi Ncube, said it is "disheartening" that those in Zanu PF and those sympathetic to the party continue to advance the notion that the problem in Zimbabwe is "one between the white and black race over the land issue" yet many black Zimbabweans have been "butchered" by Robert Mugabe's regime since Zimbabwe gained political independence from Britain in 1980.
A highly charged Ncube, who is from the Ndebele tribe, spoke emotionally about how he lost his mother during the Matebeleland massacres in the early 1980s. The massacres which are widely known as Gukurahundi (a Shona word which means separating chaff from grain) saw Mugabe unleashing the notorious Korea trained 6th Brigade army on the minority Ndebele tribe between 1981 and 1985. Thousands of civilians perished in the genocide. To date calls by human rights groups to set a Trust Fund to compensate victims of Gukurahundi have fallen on Mugabe's deaf ears.
Ncube said after the Matebeleland disturbances Zanu PF continue to "unleash a reign of terror" on opposition political activists and "unbelievably" "naively want everyone to believe Zimbabwe's problems stem from the whites."
"Since the formation of MDC in 1999 we have witnessed our supporters and members killed in cold blood by Robert Mugabe's thugs. But surprisingly Zanu PF want us to believe the problem are whites. I just can't believe this," said Ncube.
The heated discussion included officials from the MDC, an incoming Zanu PF House of Assembly representative, Makhosini Hlongwani, for Mberengwa West, a Midlands province constituency , and civic organisations and academics.
Hlongwani said his party's global perspective is one influenced by the West's desire to eradicate all revolutionary forces on the earth. "They label (President) Mugabe a despot, dictator," said Hlogwani. He alleged this "grand scheme" started with the disintegration of the Union Socialist Soviet Republic (USSR) through "ongoing destabilisation" in China. He alleged the scheme "will sweep" through Southern Africa. "After Robert Mugabe their next target is South Africa. They are doing this through the Confederation of South Africa Trade Union (COSATU). "All this is advanced through the Western media propaganda machinery," alleged Hlongwani.
Gweru Executive Mayor and MDC Secretary for Local Government, Sesil Zvidzai, said his party's position on where Zimbabweans come from is one premised on the liberation struggle. He however said "true liberation fighters like Jason Ziyapapa Moyo and Josiah Tongogara (now late) fought for the political independence of Zimbabweans. “MDC takes it from that stage to advance the cause for social freedoms. We have had political independence long back, now is the time to enjoy other liberties and prosper as a nation. That is why people overwhelmingly voted for MDC in the recent elections. We won the presidential race by 50,33%. We know it and Zanu PF knows it also. Results were displayed in all polling stations. Zanu PF can delay the will of the people but not for long. It is inevitable," said Zvidzai.
