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Nyarota has selective memory
By Brilliant
Mhlanga
IT IS always interesting to read articles from notable figures like
Geoffrey Nyarota. The most striking thing about their articles is the
general belief and assumption that they are written by old and even
wiser people.
The disgrace therefore is when one discovers that these assumptions are very wrong. In fact it is wrong to assume that men or women of great stature are infallible. Having read Geoffrey Nyarota´s article which came out in the Financial Gazette, on 8 March 2006, one wonders whether he intended to impart any knowledge towards the future of Zimbabwe.
Interestingly, Nyarota´s busy article seeks to take the reader somewhere but ends nowhere. Its high sounding verbal volt with little to glim from confines it to a complete lack of any apparent meaning.
It is really disconcerting to note that Geoffrey Nyarota would ramble in such a glib article claiming harmonious relations between the Shona and Ndebele in Matabeleland in the 1980s. If his assertions are true, then he must further explain what happened to Lookout Masuku and many others who perished in the 1980s. Surely Nyarota must be more informed than most of us on what was happening in various parts of Matabeleland, as the former editor of the Chronicle. If he chooses to openly lie about Robert Mugabe´s evil deeds in Matabeleland simply because he (Nyarota) commissioned this act by omission, then he must be reminded that the true history of Zimbabwe is yet to be told.
The people of Matabeleland are aware of his active role, in complicity, by clearly stating in his editorial comments in the Chronicle during the Gukurahundi era that, “….Hit them hard”, referring to the innocent civilians who were being butchered by the Fifth Brigade (Gukurahundi), at the behest of Zanu PF, the party Geof Nyarota belonged to at the time. These innocent people's sin was nothing other than that they belonged to the `wrong´ ethnic grouping -- Ndebele. It is worth noting that Nyarota's response then was a show of solidarity following Robert Mugabe's speech just before and at the commissioning of the Fifth Brigade (in 1982/3), when he said, “…..the time has come to show the people of Matabeleland (Ndebele) that we have teeth, surely we shall bite.” The big question is: Who was he (Robert Mugabe) referring to as the “WE”? Judging from Nyarota's errancy, his hopes and aspirations were being fullfilled in the “WE” speech. This automatically makes him as culpable as any loose cannon.
The creation of a fictitious picture of good relations when people were being killed is in itself unacceptable. Does this imply that Nyarota has forgotten about the people who were made to eat live Chameleons, young pregnant women who were raped and later on bayonetted to expose the foetus? If he has forgotten, the world would want to know why such a selective loss of memory? Geoffrey Nyarota is the same man who wanted to serialise the report on Matabeleland massacres compiled by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in collaboration with Legal Resources Foundation, when he was Editor of the Daily News. How can he forget so fast to the extent of claiming harmonious relations?
It is also my wish to challenge his assertion that some of the Zanu PF leaders who have caused untold hardship and strife in Zimbabwe are Ndebele. Then he goes on to create parallels between Professor Jonathan Moyo and Enos Nkala. These two will never be the same. Enos Nkala participated whole-heartedly in the butchering of the innocent people during the Gukurahundi era. My memory tells me that he was working for a Shona leader, Robert Mugabe. His intransigent actions informed by the spirit of ogre will never be forgotten, just like the clearly indelible words of an Editor of Chronicle who says, “…hit them hard.” Professor Jonathan Moyo did not participate in any genocide. Yes, he worked for Robert Mugabe´s government, but he did not openly support any genocide the way Nyarota did.
On Professor Arthur Mutambara and MDC politics.
Nyarota's article on this issue has a tinge of truth in it, although it is incongruent. Particularly, on the MDC/Zanu PF talks.
Having participated actively in the civil society movement in Zimbabwe, I recall the day when I was part of the National Constitutional Assembly delegation, which met the South African team of legislators sent by the Pretoria government. Dr Blade Nzimande, the Secretary-General of the South African Communist party, which is part of South Africa´s leading tripartite, was the leader of the team. This South African delegation clearly stated the involvement of the Pretoria government and the coining of a new constitution involving excerpts from the NCA draft and the Zanu PF 1999 Draft constitution, which was rejected by the people. It is true therefore that both parties, MDC and Zanu PF had committed themselves towards the coining of a new constitution with the help of Pretoria government.
Nyarota deserves to be given some benefit of doubt on his knowledge of these clandestine meetings.
It would also be good for him to truthfully acknowledge his participation. His vicious attack on Professor Welshmen Ncube and his camp serves to confirm his tribal predilection. It could be true that Professor Welshmen Ncube participated in these talks in as much as it is true that Morgan Tsvangirai met President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Zimbabwean State House at 1am. We can also add that it is true that Tsvangirai met General Solomon Mujuru or the comic figure Ben-Menashe. This serves to show us that singling one particular group as having a serious predisposition towards betraying is not a preserve of any tribal leaning. If anything, it transcends across the MDC's spine, as an opposition party.
I would also agree that Professor Arthur Mutambara has a serious political landscape to level. Much as his CV appears impeccable, my view as I have conversed with other progressive colleagues, the likes of Msekiwa Makwanya and Alex Magaisa, is that his academic record to start with qualifies him for a `good´ Vice-Chancellor maybe in one of our high flying Universities, like National University of Science and Technology or the recently constituted University of Science and Technology, formerly Harare Institute of Technology.
Unfortunately, Vice-Chancellorship in Zimbabwe rests on one´s level of political allegiance. This automatically disqualifies Professor Mutamabara. His CV would gain him accolades in the western democracies, not African political-space. Africa still suffers from a serious problem of incumbency. The recent elections in Uganda serve as a case in point. I have also challenged most colleagues to shun hero-worshipping and emperor creation, as this breeds dictatorship. We have Morgan Tsvangirai for a good example in the opposition. Even those who are now opposed to him once hero-worshipped him.
However, this does not completely disqualify Professor Mutambara from participating in Zimbabwean politics. He has every democratic right to do so. He reserves the right to politically align himself anyway he wants. Nyarota unfairly attacked him for choosing Professor Welshmen Ncube's faction. To me, Nyarota's tirade depicts the views of one who feels insulted that Professor Mutambara has `disgraced´ himself by aligning himself with the `wrong´ ethnic faction.
It would appear Professor Mutambara has vigorously transgressed by joining a group that was perceived to be a Ndebele ethnic clique. Nyarota´s bigotry is displayed by his deliberate misquoting of Professor Arthur Mutambara´s presidential assumption speech. Nyarota chooses to misconstrue Professor Mutambara by suggesting that he strongly belongs to the anti-senate move, without giving background to the entire statement. In my view Professor Mutambara clearly stated that he supported a wholesale boycott of all elections, not the senate elections alone. This was also our NCA position. This is what Professor Mutambara referred to as the creation of a legitimation crisis.
It could be true
that Professor Mutambara has no touch with the general populace, however,
he can still make a mark. The issue therefore is focusing on challenges
on the ground than spending our time complaining on
his move. Whether we like it or not, the truth is, Professor Arthur
Mutambara is now President of MDC. He comes at a time when the civil
society movement is also in disarray, not to mention the opposition.
His task therefore is not seek to unite Morgan Tsvangirai with any one,
but to coalesce with various stakeholders in the Zimbabwean politics.
This includes people from the civil society, all opposition parties
and well meaning people from the Zanu PF government.
This view is informed by the fact that Zimbabwe belongs to everyone. No one has more stakeholder interests than others. This move alone is part of the creation of the constitution of society, where all social structures coalesce to give meaning to one whole, the future of Zimbabwe.
Professor Mutambara has a big task at hand, that is, serious social cleavages that have always threatened tearing Zimbabwe as a nation-state apart. These include ethnicity as a major factor. It would be advisable to note that historically evil acts like the Gukurahundi ethnic cleansing are addressed. There is need for a lasting solution to this issue. This must be done in consultation with the affected people.
Lastly, I wish to challenge colleagues and everyone involved in this democracy ideation to seek the truth first and stand by it. Such a move will save Zimbabwe. Arguing that in Zimbabwe Ndebele and Shona were or are living harmoniously is in itself untrue.
Everything is done
under hushed tones. However, it remains our duty as responsible citizens
to seek to right the wrongs of the past. We can only do so by first
telling the truth. I challenge Nyarota to always remember this noble
truth. Use of hereditary arguments as justification for the economic,
social and political repression of one ethnic group must never be condoned.
Therefore blame on history, I say!
Mhlanga is a former university student leader and human rights activist.
He can be contacted at bsigabadem@yahoo.co.uk
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