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Abaziyo bathi we live in the IT or Information age. Technology is driving small and big societies. Small, big and unknown organisations greatly benefit from the advent of this technology. Many forward thinking and innovative communities utilise technology to their advantage. But is it all rose or the technology also presents some difficulties to these communities?

Mthwakazi nation as a community has also embraced this new gospel, especially the internet to further its political and developmental goals. Many organisations that use the internet as a vehicle for information dissemination have mushroomed.

As the political and economic space shrinked even further in Zim, many Mthwakazi nationals migrated to more developed countries such as the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, UK, SA, Botswana etc.

Organisations such as Mthwakazi, Mthwakazionline, Inkundla.network, etc they in one way or the other aim to uplift Mthwakazi. And the greater percentage of the participants and proprietors of these organisations might be abroad.

Now let us try to look at how the INTERNET impacts on the Mthwakazi cause. Is the Impact positive or negative, some may say both, but what do we actually mean by that, a closer look will reveal a whole host of factors pertaining to this impact i am trying to talk about.

The following are some of the merits or advantages of the Cyper space politics to the Mthwakazi cause:
a) Protected identity:
This affords people with any opportunity to discuss things that many wouldn't dare touch. Many express unusual ideas in the knowledge that noone will know where the idea is from. These unfamiliar ideas help to define the struggle at a strategic level and reinvigorate and reinforce the otherwise suppressed living and existing ideas.
b) Reinforcement of Mthwakazi nationalism:
The Mthwakazi identity or nationalism has faced all sorts of evil forces, all attempting at extinguishing ther ever blazing flame. The advent of the Internet has witnessed the highest political debates reinforcing the desire of Mthwakazi independence and identity.
c) Articulating the Mthwakazi needs and cause:
It is now by consensus that Mthwakazi deserves some form of autonomy, some believe that the "civilised divorce" secession is the answer while some believe that federalism is the most feasible goal, that could be attained in our time. Now it is clear that the continued survival of Mthwakazi is only possible outside the influence of Shonas.
d) Acquisition of historical and current political and developmental information:
Many people have polished out their debating skills on Internet forums and in the process acquired and transefered knowledge about themselves and Mthwakazi.
e) The Possibility of acting as a spring-board to the formation of Mthwakazi political and developmental organisations:
Many people are networking on the internet forums and behind the scenes, this will help in cementing relationships, allaying fears of mistrust and thereby providing the individuals concerned with a solid platfoam for organising and forming organisations that will be effective in articulating the Mthwakazi cause and work for the total emancipation of our people.

But what are the limitations and possible weaknesses of the cyber space politics?
The following are some of the those disadvantages as regards to Mthwakazi cause:
a) False sense of progress:
Sometimes in the heat of debate reality is lost. We sometimes tend to over exaggerate the power of the Internet. We forget that the majority of our people do not own or have access to computers and therefore the information discussed on the internet does not reach a lot of our people, therefore the reality is that our reality and of those on the ground tend to differ to a degree.
b) Fear of uncovering our false identities:
Very few people use their real names on the internet, therefore the possiblity of forming an organisation poses a threat of unmasking these false identities, people are now more comfortable with their acquired false identities and they will fight to protect them. This poses a great threat to the possiblity of a Mthwakazi re-unification and revival as people are afraid of revealing their true identities.
c) Diluting and dampening the desire and resolve to be free:
The tendence of perpetual talking and nothing being done on the ground dumpens the spirit and desire of freedom in the long run. Some people are pushed by anger to try and liberate themselves, but the more they talk of their problems the quicker the the anger fades, talking of one's problems has a therapuetic effect, people are getting healed right here on the cyber-space and despair of a possible free Mthwakazi ushered into their hearts.

Conclusion:
The only thing needed is to complement the talk with the action, not to substitute it.

limqotho SINATHA ngiyibalile incwadi yakho ngakho ngikwethulela ijazi mfowethu.ngombono wami ngibona sengathi isayibha politiki iyabulala kakhulu ngani ngoba kudala bekukhulunywa kwenziwe.iyasilimaza njalo ngokuthi ma sihlaziya indaba zethu sibuya siziphakele labetshabi abaziyo ulimi lwethu.

umbuzo engilawo yikuthi singenzani ukuze lathi abakaMthwakazi senze into ziphumelele.

Sibamba

Mmmmmm mfanakithi, lapha utshaye kwathophela s'true. Abalendlebe bazwile, abazimiseleyo bazaphuma la, ngilethemba sibili. Uyabongeka umbono wakho mnewethu.

Mthwakazi

Nanti ibhola selisehlangothini lwethu, asizeni lembono ukuthi from here siyangaphi. Mzamo bani esizayenza? Ngobani abazasukumela phezulu?

Sibamba
I agree with your critique of the cyber politics in relation to the Mthwakazi cause.
I would like to further extend your views above to the the Mthwakazi social and economic interactions:
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• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Cyber space has given us a virtual social society where we discuss serious and trivial social needs and thus forming a true Mthwakazi bond</font></li>
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Inkudla.network projects enable participation and learning about possible projects easier</font></li>
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Social meeting point( e.g. Akulalwa ngolwesihlanu) with friends and loved one, which transcends the distances between us</font></li>
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">discuss and "influence" happenings at Bosso by putting on record views and misgivings</font></li>

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On the negative side:
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• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The virtual society remains just that. Friendships and relationship are hard to cement due to the fear of disclosing our virtual identities</font></li>
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No follow up on economic or other proposed projects due to the same fear factor on our indentities being exposed</font></li>

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Where to next is the difficult question.
I would encourage those that do get frastrated, by lack of action, to exercise patience while at the same time calling for action rather than giving up everything. Mkhulu lomsebenzi!
We also need to realise that ideas need to generated and discussed continuously irrespectve of any action, or lack of.

Sibambamahawu!

The seed is being planted right here Baba ungesabi. Abanengi beguquka kusonalesi isiguqo se cyber. There is a lot of conscientisation happening ebantwini. I certainly do beleive that we are putting this space to good use. Ungadani!

Mhla kusiza umvukela siyabe sesivuthiwe.

Mahlabezulu
Mthwakazi omuhle, kuyabongeka lokhu elikuphanyeke ngaphezulu. The spirit and desire of freedom lives here. It is also evident that we might undermine what we are doing here right now but in the future this might be Inqolobane yabantwabethu, a source of inspiration, a source of information that will inspire generations to come, to revolt against an oppresive system. As Mabila said, i do believe that a seed is being planted and it will soon generate energy and germinate. Now what is needed is for each and evryone of us is to think deep and seek the true source of our inspiration and reaffirm our allegiance to our desire to be a free people again. We must slowly shed-off our acquired identities and revert back to our tru and original identities. The question is, Is it you or me who will take this opportunity to stretch a hand. Asiqoqaneni bafowethu, there is no time to wait, abanye bathi strike the hammer insimbi isashisa. Once we let this opportunity pass-by we must forget about everything. We shall be judged.

Sibambamahawu,

A good critique baba that is meant to challenge abaThwakazi to regroup, re-organise themselves and effect political action to solve their problems.

Make no mistake about this:We have to make it happen, it has to happen and there should be no re-treating in this. Me and You and any other member in this forum shoulder this responsibility to make this happen. I believe we can build on what we have here at our disposal and move on.

Inkatha isikhona and Inkundla has been leading in creating and nurturing that sense of identity and that sense of belonging and now we need to take it a step further. I believe that this is going to happen and happen soon. I might be wrong, who knows. We have to give each others a chance while we make attempts to regroup or else we are finished as Skuvethe usually says in his brief but to the point comments.