Ethnicity –The Matabeleland Issue and the Need For A FRAMEWORK ON ETHNIC RELATIONS
Dumisani O. Nkomo-Dumisani is the C.E.O OF Habakkuk Trust and spokesperson of the Matabeleland Civil Society Consortium .He writes here in his personal capacity
Recently the Zimbabwean media has been awash with reports on various issues pertaining to Matabeleland and all indications are that in the post transition era the Matabeleland issue will take centre stage. Some groups have even gone to the extent of advocating for the total secession of Matabeleland from Zimbabwe and in the process have attracted widespread condemnation and criticism .I would like to argue that the emergence of radical groups in Matabeleland is not the problem but rather it is particular socio economic and political conditions which have led to calls for secession by these radical groups .It would not be prudent to merely react to symptoms of problems but rather to clearly identify the core structural issues that have caused some Zimbabweans to think that they are not Zimbabweans .I would also like to argue that though the marginalization is real and can be empirically proved it is not enough for people from the region to merely moan and groan about the situation .Similarly if the economic and political superstructure fails to address this emerging problem we may find ourselves dealing with a multi faceted ,unmitigated crisis .It is therefore important to interrogate what has been called the Matabeleland issue and to explore possible solutions in the national interest .
Tribalization of Zimbawean Politics
The genesis of the Zimbabwean struggle for independence led by the early nationalists such as Benjamin Burombo, Joshua Nkomo, Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo, Clement Muchachi ,Masotsha Ndlovu, Leopold Takawira and others was epitomized by a spirit of nationalism without regard to issues of ethnic origin. The advent of ZANU in 1964 by design or default led to the tribalization of Zimbabwean politics. Consequently by the time the country’s first majority rule elections were held tribalism had become a major factor in Zimbabwean politics. P.F ZAPU under Nkomo was viewed as a party for Ndebeles and ZANU P.F a party for the dominant Shona ethnic groups. This was in spite of the fact that the majority of P.F ZAPU ‘s leadership were actually Shona.Shona leaders in PF ZAPU included its first vice president vice president Josiah Chinamano , Amon Jirira ,Joseph Msika ,Daniel Nziramasanga , Ariston Chambati amongst many others .In spite of its cosmopolitan composition national outlook P.F ZAPU ‘s support was confined to Matabeleland ,parts of the Midlands and a few areas in Mashonaland West . The tribalization of Zimbawean politics worked in favor of ZANU P.F for the first twenty years of independence but the consequences of this phenomenon have lasted to present day Zimbabwe. It has become accepted amongst political parties that Ndebeles and other ethnic minorities can only become vice presidents or deputy this or that. This has even taken root in civic formations and sporting associations where ethnic balancing has become commonplace. There is even a common misconception that if anything is started in Matabeleland then it is tribal whether it is a political party, civic group or even a sports club. I look forward to the day when we will elect political leaders not because of their ethnic origin but their capacity to lead this great country whether they are Tonga ,Ndebele ,Ndau,Korekore ,coloured ,black ,white or blue
Underdevelopment of Matabeleland and the De-Industrialization of Bulawayo
Another factor that has led to increasing discontent in Matabeleland is the issue of gross under development of the region as a whole. This was accentuated by the Gukurahundi massacres which took Matabeleland back by another twenty years in terms of development. Under development has been manifest in the state of the region’s infrastructure including roads, schools, clinics, hospitals and dams .Some argue that even the racist regime of Ian Smith did more for Matabeleland than the current regime.
Bulawayo which was the industrial hub of Zimbabwe in the seventies has literally become a ghost town in independent Zimbabwe. At independence the city housed headquarters of various parastatals including the National Railways of Zimbabwe and the Cold Storage Commission [now the Cold Storage Company]. After independence there was mass relocation of companies to Harare and only a few buildings were built in the city centre of Bulawayo. Even before the advent of the economic crisis in the 1990’s a large proportion of the populace in the region had already fled to neighboring South Africa as economic refugees.
Perhaps Minister of Industry and Commerce Professor Welshman Ncube was right when he argued that Matabeleland needs a robust financial sector headquartered in the region which would capitalize industry and commerce .Clamouring about de industrialization without considering viable alternatives would be naïve and immature .
In order to remedy the situation the government has to consistently and continuously ensure that the region has its fair share of the national cake through equitable budget allocation for capital projects.
Gukurahundi
The unresolved issue of Gukurahundi which saw the government butchering over 20,000 Matabeles is another outstanding issue which has been ignored for decades. If this issue is not attended to we might as well forget about national healing and talk about national dealing. This issue should be dealt with by an independent and credible Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission It must be borne in mind that the massacres led to the wholesale destruction of livelihoods, schools and other infrastructure and the mass displacement of thousands of people. Obviously individual compensation will not be possible from a pragmatic economic point of view but at least some form of affirmative action in terms of development of schools, clinics, roads and basic services should be put in place. Budgetary allocations should take into cognizance the historic marginalization of the region before and after independence. This should not be at the expense of other regions but should be done in the context of true national healing, development and shared national values and vision.
Language and History
The minister of education ,Senator David Coltart recently admitted that the deployment of non Ndebele teachers in Matabeleland was disadvantaging children from Matabeleland .There is need to look into this issue starting from the teachers who are enrolled at teachers colleges to train in teaching Ndebele.Is the problem that of Ndebeles not wanting to enroll trainee teachers in Ndebele or is it a problem of deliberate marginalization .Additionally there is need to address the content of the history books which give an impression that Ndebeles played a peripheral role both in the 1 st Chimuranga or Imfazo in Ndebele and the Liberation struggle .The role of ZIPRA ,ZAPU ,Nkomo are deliberately downplayed and there is no mention of Gukurahundi .Surely we cannot talk of a shared vision of the future when we do not have a shared past .Once again others may argue that maybe if Ndebeles do not write their own history no one else will ,this is something worth considering
Conclusion
I would like to conclude by saying the Matabeleland issue is not a tribal issue but an issue of national significance and consequence. I do not see the next generation of politicians from Matabeleland agreeing to be political concubines in political formations that reduce them to decorative ornaments that exist to balance ethnic equations neither do I see the people of Matabeleland continuing to keep silent about the wounds of Gukurahundi .I propose the following in unlocking the Matabeleland Issue and broadly other issues relating to Ethnic Relations
Development of a framework to manage ethnic relations including so called minorities such as Tongas ,Nambyas ,Kalangas ,Ndaus ,Suthus,Vendas ,people of Malawain ,Zambian and Mozambiquan descent ,coloureds ,Asians and yes whites .All these people are part of Zimbabwe and many of them are proud citizens of this great nation .Minister for National Healing called it an Ethnic Relations Commission .Every Zimbabwean regardless of ethnic origin needs to be assured that they have their space in the sky and should have a share of the pie [or what’s left of it ].Consideration should be also given to the fact that the Shona sub groups including Zezuru ,Karanga,Korekore and Manyika should not be treated as a monolith but as part of the rich ethnic depository of the nation .This should be done in a spirit of true national unity not the current mirage of smokescreen reconciliation and fake reconciliation based on lies .
- The setting up of a Truth and Justice Commission to look into the Gukurahundi massacres [this could be a long term measure as realistically it may not be possible now].
- Affirmative action in infrastructural and human development to recover the ten years that the region lost during the first ten years of independence.
- A new constitution that devolves power to the country’s five regions in order to minimize uneven development and promote the use of local resources as well as enhancing local participation and ownership of decision making processes. This will contribute to a greater sense of nationhood because it is difficult to be proud of your community if you are not proud of your family neither can you be proud of your country if you are not proud of your village, city or region.
- Constitutional provisions protecting all the country’s languages and cultures.
- Declaration of Bulawayo as the commercial /industrial capital of Zimbabwe with commensurate government commitment to this status much in the same way as in South Africa Tshwane is the administrative capital, Johannesburg the industrial and commercial capital and Cape Town the legislative capital.
- I will conclude by saying the Matabeleland issue is not a Ndebele issue or a tribal one for that matter .There is no virtue in being a Ndebele supremist in the same way that there is no virtue in being a Shona supremist ,neither is there virtue in racism against whites in the same way that racism by whites is wrong .Let us not think that tribalism is right when we are the ones practicing it The region is cosmopolitan in nature and houses over thirteen ethnic groups including Ndebele, Suthu, Nambya Kalanga, Tswana, Shona and Tonga. It is this ethnic diversity which makes Matabeleland unique together with the peculiar political, economic and social experiences it has undergone a special case.
- Lastly people from Matabeland should become more assertive and pro active instead of being perpetual victims and rid themselves[ourselves ] of victim mentality .Victims only attract sympathy but their conditions remain the same but victors take charge of their destiny .
Dumisani can be contacted on dumisani.nkomo@gmail.com
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