Blame me on History: The People of Matebeleland their case and proposed solutions to their Predicament


Dear Alex (In response to his article on the Ndebele people on Newzimbabwe.com)

I hope I find you well. I had promised to write you
and offer solutions to what I see as an indelible mark
of oppression of my people, the PEOPLE OF
MATEBELELAND. Please note that I shall be using the
term `My People´, because in Ndebele it is an
affectionate term for Àbantu bakwethu/bakithi´. I must
begin by saying the Ndebele people have a strong
history of resistance, this explains most probably the
reason why to this day they continue to survive
despite all this persecution by the Shona people,
although their sense of pride has since been reduced.
Before, I offer the solutions, I must hasten to add
that from my previous communication with you which you
also acknowledge receipt of, I sought to enunciate on
the political, economic and developmental subjugation
of the Ndebele by the Harare Government. I will then
submit to you how this has created an indelible mark
on them, socially. And put it through that this is a
deliberate policy by the Shona ruling elite to oppress
them. I will seek by all means necessary to be as
simple as possible by giving contemporary examples to
buttress my views.
Having read Frantz Fanon´s two major volumes (The
Wretched of the earth and Blackskin, Whitemasks) on
the psychology of colonialism
I came to the realisation that where Fanon had put
`racism´one can substitute by putting either `Shona
domination´or `tribalism´. Because the people of
Matebeleland have been oppressed for too long, their
oppression has caused them to lose their self-esteem.
This is one of the most grave offences ever committed
by Mugabe on my people. It shall never be taken
lightly though. Punishment will definitely have to be
meted. This form of oppression, de-socialises an
individual, it de-personalises them too. It makes them
whisper about their being Ndebele among their Shona
counter-parts. Even, in a beer drinking spree, you
will find that the one who makes the most noise in
Shona is Ndebele. This is a very serious sign of
social death.
Ndebele people as a group are prepared to
accommodate any Shona speaker by way of quickly
switching to Shona, interestingly, even in situations
that donot warrant such a stunt. Yet Shona people
donot want to speak Ndebele. In fact, Shona people are
quick to say àndisikunzva´. When one complains about
this behaviour he is quickly reminded that afterall
everyone in Zimbabwe can speak Shona!
This is a true reflection of the negative impact
of Shona hegemony. It makes the oppressed feel good
when speaking the langugae of the oppressor. This
happens to the extent of having him/her (Ndebele
speaker) conversing with his fellow Ndebele brothers
in Shona, in an attempt to please this `one´ Shona
colleague who has just joined them. Imagine it
Magaisa. I guess you have seen it, in fact you have
even written an article recently about the advent of
Mutambara in the MDC politics, particularly the Prof
Welshmen faction.
This faction is very happy for having managed to
lure Arthur Mutambara, what a big scoop to them. This
is what oppression does to the mind. There is a
socially constructed insinuation and vagueness that a
Ndebele can never be a President, except when he is in
an
`Acting´ capacity. This is even seen in schools, SRCs
at tertiary colleges and Universities. A Ndebele is
always second fiddle. Imagine this Magaisa, that you
are born into a role which has already been created,
and even in class you are taught, that if there is a
Shona speaker you shall never be the class-monitor,
let alone the prefect. He alone will be both and you
will only be his deputy. That´s unfair I say! This is
what the Gibson Sibanda faction are going through. To
some it is seen as a shrewed political strategy, but
the truth is, it´s a political strategy masked in
their ineptness, as they strongly believe that they
can never be Presidents. Even Professor Welsh Ncube,
once confrimed it, that a Ndebele can not be President
in Zimbabwe. That was foolish of him but he was
echoing the sentiments of the system that made him
what he is today. Is that not sad!!!

Lastly, before I go to the solution, I wish to submit
again that, my People, The Ndebele people, have seen
their oppression through to their death. I challenge
anyone of us to visit Masakhane Funeral Parlour in
Johannesburg, South Africa, and request to see dead
bodies waiting to be repatriated back to Zimbabwe. Or
even Beitbridge Border post. Most of them will be
destined for Matebeleland, Lupane, Nkayi, Gwanda,
Plumtree, Tsholotsho etc. The reason is simple, they
were forced into South Africa, by the unemployment
situation created by the system which favours Shona
people even in Matebeleland. My brother, Ndumiso
Wilfred Mathe, was fired from Famona Post Office, from
being a mere postman, with his O´Levels. The reason
was he could not address his bosses in Shona. That
form of victimisation was far too much for him to
contain. So he left, for South Africa.
He died in 2001, while working in Johannesburg.
Who is to blame for all this, waMagaisa? Is it
Mugabe alone? Or Is it the Shona people too, who are
beneficiaries of the system which forces other people
into their graves?

Solutions to this problem.

There are many solutions to this problem. I will only
confine myself to two. These being:
a) Going the constitutional way, and creating a
Federal project for all people to benefit from their
resources.
b) Creating a seperate state, completely independent
from the Harare government.

a) The Federal Project.

I have written a lot about the federal project in my
previous writings. Those who have read my articles,
will remember, that I stated that a Federal project
becomes the best way of social restructution
especially in sharing resources. This means that
Zimbabwe has to be divided into
manageable regions. For example, Matebeleland as a
region, to have their own legislature, with regional
ministers, an elected governor rather than a selected
one and also autonomy in policy formulation and
resource distribution and use.
These policies will also have to be clear on the
education sector, for example, as a major human
resource investment. It has to be clearly stated on
how people from other regions will be recruited into
our schools, Colleges and Universities. Considering
that of late there has been an influx of Shona people
or that they were benefiting alone, I would propose a
quota system to begin with, but this should be changed
with time.
Resource sharing and distribution must be left
to the regions to decide. Only a percentage, must be
remitted towards the central government. This is
because, the central government must retain the
defence forces and all other state apparatus.
The federal project will create a sense of belonging
among the people of Matebeleland, Manicaland, Masvingo
etc. This sense of belonging will be informed by the
responsiblities that come along with managing a region
as a people, and freedom to determine what policy is
good for you or not. An example is the South African
situation, the case of KwaZulu-Natal, where I have
been living for quite sometime. When President Mbeki,
went on his usual raving and ranting on HIV/AIDS,
it´s causes and effects. The Province of
KwaZulu-Natal, through their regional parliament
passed an HIV/AIDS policy, and immediately started
distributing AZT and ARV drugs. They left the talking
to Mbeki and others who cared to listen, and saved the
region. Today, KwaZulu-Natal as a region is promising,
considering that it is said to be the region with the
highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. Therefore, if people
are granted a certain modicum of self-determination,
they become even more responsible.
This should be done through a new constitution for
Zimbabwe. The major benefit of this is that the
transition can be smooth without much of tongue
wagging and probably minimized conflict. Above all
Zimbabwe, remains as a `nation-state.´Still intact.
The problem with this policy is that it might scare
most of our Shona colleagues, who have always
suspected that Ndebele people will one day break away
and who have been in the system for too long and have
come to realise the similarities of benefiting and
oppression. However, for those who believe that
Zimbabwe can still be maintained as a `nation-state´,
the Federal project becomes the way to go. I wish to
conclude on this project by stating that, some people
like Sam Siphepha Nkomo, have written about it.
However, they have chosen to beautify it by labelling
it, Provincialisation. I donot have a problem with the
label. Chika Onyeani in his book: Capitalist Nigger,
says it is not the label that matters to you, but how
you respond to it.

b) Creation of a seperate state.
Basil Davidson in his book: The Blackman´s Burden;
Africa and the curse of the Nation-State, (page 14)
says
"....a buzz of questions:perhaps best handled, to
begin with, by stripping customary verbiage from
the rhetoric of nationalism, and taking a look at the
spiny contradictions that evidently lie beneath. For
if nationalism has been and can be a liberating force,
why then has it so often become reverse?"

The call for the creation of a seperate state, entails
that Zimbabwe is never a `Nation`, it is in fact a
`State´. This also implies that within a `State´there
may be two or more nations that add to the whole,that
which we call a ´Nation-Sate´, Zimbabwe for example.
Ndebele is a nation. It is in fact an
ethnic-nationality. The same applies to Shona.
This logically draws us to the view that in Ndebele,
since it can best be put in this way; Ìnkunzi sesibaya
sinye azihlalisani´, literally fumbled would mean, two
bulls cannot live in the same kraal. Therefore Shona
and Ndebele would tolerate each other to a certain
extent, but they can not fully coexist. An example is
that of intermarriages. Even if they exist, they are
discouraged from both sides, though under hushed tones
or behind closed doors, but they remain not completely
accepted.

The crisis of the people of Matebeleland, in a bid to
understand the need for a seperate state has to be
seen in a much larger picture, that is, as an African
crisis. I have written on this before. But for the
benefit of those who have not seen my previous
article, I shall repeat.
What is commonly referred to as an African crisis
has its roots from many upsets and conflicts, however,
the root of the problem is different from other
socially perceived problems.Though the problem being
socially, it has more roots in political institutions
within which decolonised Africans have sought to live
and eke their survival. This primarily is a crisis of
institutions. The major institution whose bedrock was
the new nationalism in the form of Zimbabwe for
example, a creation of the white colonial system. This
so called `nationalism´was informed by the deep-seated
yearning for liberation. This was seen as a practice
of restoration, whereby Africa was being given back to
her history, yet the truth has it that this marked a
new era of indirect subjection of Africa to the
History of Europe. Africa had to live and seek
survival with fifity states in her belly. What a
mess!!!

Therefore those who call for a seperate state have
their roots on the fact that, we have been trodding on
the wrong route. A route whose creators where some
European potantes whose major drive was to benefit
from Africa. Hence the creation of various foundations
to further their causes. Today an African remains a
begger. He shall beg for donor money and feel good
that he is benefiting when it was deliberately meant
that he shall write nice project proposal in order to
continue subjected to Europe and other hidden powers.
We are therefore in a state of liberation, which has
since produced its own denial.
Some colleagues have seen it befitting therefore
to call for a seperate state, in order to hasten the
stoppage of a historical wrong. The arguments for a
seperate state are sound inasmuch as those for a
federal project are. They seek to endow God´s people
with the powers to determine every cause of action
they shall take. They also argue that, the Population
of Matebeleland continues and shall continue in
reality to be bigger than the populations of Lesotho
and Swaziland combined, yet the two latter are
regarded as independent nations.
They also hold that, atleast this will be the time
they will ever have a Ndebele president since in the
present arrangement a Ndebele cannot be President.
The problem with this solution is that, it is not
easy for the Shona people who have been in power to
let go easily. As a result there will be a violent
conflict and bloodshed. It only depends on whether
people are prepared for it on either side. However,
Ojukwu in his book; Because I am involved, says he has
come to the realisation that peace doesnot bring
violence, but violence brings peace. Therefore,
violence becomes to him the best means upon which the
oppressed can step as a parapet to their freedom.

Lastly, I appreaciate all efforts aimed at bringing
about a lasting solution for my people, the Ndebele.
They have seen so much suffering. Even the gospel that
their rewards will be in heaven seems too heavy to
believe now. If people want peace, then so be it. I
donot mind anything.
But as responsible people our efforts must be in
such a way that when time comes for us to pass on the
button to the generations to come we do not remain
with the label sellouts or traitors. It is for the
good of our future and that of our children that we
shall embrace the course of action we shall take. So;
Blame me on history, I say waMagaisa.

Regards

Brilliant Mhlanga
University of Oslo
Department of Media and Communication
Blindern
Oslo
Norway.

Kuhle lokhu bakwethu, njalo ucacil'ujaha. Utshaye khona sibili, ngimtshayelihlombe u Mhlanga.

i think ngizathi izandla emoyeni bakwethu lithini ngalokho

SITHI EZANDLENIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII SIBILIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

eMhlanga siyabonga.

ngilokuluhlutshana ngesethulo sakho, the two ways you proposed calls for action.

Woza lazo jaha.

Mandla

Phez'ukwalokhu osukwenzile bekungabanjani uba ubungaphosa le imivo ku newzimbabwe.com okuyiyona nkundla esetshenziswe nguwaMagaisa ukugolomba. I think kungabakuhle ukuthi bonke abanelisa ukufunda i-article kaMagaisa, in addition to Kuthula's bafunde leyakho.

Ngisazoyiphosela khona.Mana ubone. Badlala ngathi. This is my second response to him. The first one maybe was not availed to you guys. I will post it for everyone to see.
I sought to chornicle it to him about inhlungu lenhlupheko zabantu bakithi.
Thanx for the encouragement. Now we need action. We will definitely not end here.
That was then and this is now!

Brilliant awuthambanga fo njengegama lakho.Vele kuzenz'ubani okunguMagaisa who seem to know ubuntu bukamthwakazi yet engazi nex.Qhubeka ngomsebenzi omhle NDETHI.

I have posted another one, the first one I sent to him directly picking a big quarell on his article before this one. He had challenged me so I had to chronicle our suffering and tried to show it exactly as it is.
Pliz feel free to pass it on to other people. Donot shy away. Shona domination is a discomfort we will never be able to live with. I mean even if we try to convince ourselves that all is well. The discomfort will nudge us to remember.
Go to Umbangazwe section and read it.

YEBO Mnakwethu
Ngiyakwesaba ndoda. Kulenyindawo okhuluma ngamawritings akho, pho atholakala njani wona?
ngiyabonga.

mfowethu kunjani. uyabona wena uyindoda yamampela. ngaphandle kokuthi sithandele amabhomu sife nabo akukho lutho esizalwenza. lento yabafowethu yokuthi kuzokhulunywa angiboni mina isebenza. sonke siyazi sibhekane nesitha esifuna ukusiqeqa nya. finish. uyokhulumani nomuntu onjalo? collect money kuthengwe izinto zakhona sikhona thina sizimisele. senze kungahlaleki kwaMthwazi for bona. vele siyafa vele. akungcono sife njengamaqhawe? noma ungaze ukhulume nabo kungathi kusehlula bona bebodwa ukuthi baklhulumisane naso isizwe sifa ngendlala pho wena unguMndebele, khohlwa. they are just prolonging our suffering. let us all talk about going for them. basiqede kubekanye mani.

mfethu waze wakhuluma kahle. bengisekhaya okwamalanga ambalwa and izinto are very bad and umangibona umuntu we-zanu and eliswina ngifisa nokuthi ngimthele umense ngiqale ngamazwane ngicine ngendlebe ngibe sengimbuka afe kancane ngoba yikho abakwenza kithi bayasibheka sisifa kancane and they are doing nothing about it.

ungabheka izikolo mfethu, believe me akusela muntu ofundisa ingane zakwethu to say the least.
silifile elihle and too bad liqiniso leli.