The theft of our history
Anyone reading about Zimbabwe over the last ten years could be forgiven a few misconceptions, with the most prominent being that it was ZANU-PF which sacrificed everything to free this country from the yoke of British colonialism.
You’d think we were a nation divided in two parts – the war veterans on one side, those who fought and “died” for this country; and the “born frees” and sell-outs on the other.
If you’re ZANU-PF, you’re a super-patriot who has given up all hopes of personal comfort for the salvation and sustenance of Mother Zimbabwe, forsaking all else for the good of the nation.
If you’re in civil society, the independent media or (heaven forbid) the MDC, you’re a cowardly sell-out working tirelessly to deliver our beloved homeland back into the grubby hands of your neo-imperialist British paymasters.
Having neither the time nor patience to go back into history, and illustrate how the legacy of the liberation struggle has been hijacked for unscrupulous party-political machinations, I’ll just say one thing – we’re no fools.
Those who mistake dissent for unpatriotism are blinkered in the cloying darkness of their own paranoia, and it’s only those with something to hide who don’t want the lights switched on.
For it is only under the glare of a vigilant citizenry that state-sponsored looting, violence and murder can be brought to light. Only if the people are paying attention to who has been granted what, which former military officer is now running what, who has invaded what farm and who’s been given a diamond mine can the future history of our Zimbabwe be correctly recorded.
It’s time to shine the light into all those dark places, before the rats eat us out of house and home.
January 18th, 2010 at 09:56 am
“The explosion will not happen today. It is too soon… or too late.”
January 18th, 2010 at 11:11 am
The revolution will not be televised and Zimbabwe is all about revisionist history – we will revise it again.
January 18th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Ian Smith told us that Livingstone, Rhodes, Stanley … ‘discovered’ Zimbabwe.
Now Bob tells us it was Takawira, Mugabe, Ziyapapa-Moyo …
Politicians are fun to watch.
January 19th, 2010 at 11:38 am
Anything interesting in the Heroes Acre speech?
January 20th, 2010 at 11:39 am
the usual:
President Mugabe yesterday said Zimbabwe’s sovereignty is non-negotiable and outsiders will only be entertained as partners in exploiting its resources for the development of the nation. Speaking at the burial of
national heroine Amai Sunny Ntombiyelanga Takawira at the National Heroes Acre in Harare he said Zimbabwe’s
destiny lies in Zimbabwean hands. Amai Takawira was the widow of the late veteran nationalist and first Zanu vice president Leopold Takawira. Present at the funeral were the 2 VPs Joice Mujuru and John Nkomo, PM Morgan
Tsvangirai and his deputies Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe, Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, Senate President Edna Madzongwe, Cabinet ministers, Zanu-PF Politburo members, parliamentarians, service chiefs and Deputy Harare Mayor Emmanuel Chiroto – Herald, Tuesday January 19, Pg 1
January 20th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Tell me, have they redefined ‘Heroes’ yet? Or rather, what are the criteria, other than being dead, for being eligible for burial at the Heroes Acres? It clearly isn’t like the US’ Arlington. Or is it? I only ask because, the gods forbid, if MT was to keel over and die, would he qualify based on the Wiki criteria? Would Unc really let that fly?
January 20th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Hectic executive …
President, 2 Vice Presidents, Prime Minister, 2 Deputy Prime Ministers, 3 Ministers Of State in the President’s Office, 2 Ministers Of State in the Vice president’s Office, 2 Ministers Of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and 1 Minister Of State in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office. 14. wtf?
Then 35 cabinet ministers and 14 (not 35?)Deputy Ministers. Again, wtf?
And when did this happen:
“The President is elected for a six-year term by all registered voters and may be re-elected for any number of additional terms.”
6 terms not 5? And the two-term limit?
January 20th, 2010 at 23:22 pm
The Zanu PF Politburo decides what your hero status is – District, Provincial, National or none.
Personally, that ridiculous monstrosity was a waste of money – korean bullshit to repay them for military assistance.
January 21st, 2010 at 01:22 am
Firstly, I understand Arlington is not for “heroes” per se, but for, like, errrbody who fights? I stand to be corrected.
As for the two-term limit … we never had one, did we? That’s a foreign notion for us, methinks.
Term limits? For the President? Uhm … no.
January 21st, 2010 at 09:45 am
Term limits were only introduced in the both versions of the draft constitution. If we had voted yes. Mugabe would be ineligible to President.
Further analysis of it makes one consider that had the no vote not carried the day Zany PF would not have been alert to the backlash and negativity of peeps and would not have mobilised the way they did.
January 21st, 2010 at 15:09 pm
Yeah, but you know in America, if you a military man, you a Hero unless you a fuckup (and a big one at that, one that they cant keep under wraps).
I dont know (on the monstrocity), I kinda like it. It looks nice as a place of special interest. Just not very thrilled with the exclusiveness of the whole thing. Am all for monuments to recognise blah blah blah, am just skeptical of those monuments in countries run like a Kingdom. Not liking that only a select few get to say what’s what.
January 21st, 2010 at 18:14 pm
I’m actually re-reading Josh Nkomo’s memoirs right now, and the guy was mighty pissed with what Zimbabwe had become (in 1984).
January 22nd, 2010 at 00:22 am
The heroes acre to honour those who had died during the war was noble and the one tomb that really has value is the tomb of the unknown soldier. They should have closed it after that and never have made it that huge to start of with. All that cement wasted on that elaborate structure, the national stadium and other ill-conceived white elephants would have better honoured those who died for this country if it had been used for more meaningful development like road infrastructure.
Dont you see the irony when you juxtapose that monstrosity in its gleaming black granite, which is supposed to symbolise the history and the victory, looking over a ruined city?