Sten Zvorwadza has betrayed the vendors struggle and dumped them in the middle of the ” Red Sea” writes Don Chigumba.

Below is his opinion piece.

I was shocked by allegations from the media that Sten Zvorwadza has started warming up towards ED and ZANU PF, I am not trying to limit the freedom of speech and politics of Sten here but just to advise him that he left the vendors of Zimbabwe in the middle of the ‘RedSea’.

Sten Zvorwadza swore before the National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe support that he would take them to Canaan. This piece aims at asking Sten Zvorwadza on whether ED and the recycled ZANU PF is the Canaan he meant during the sworn in ceremony before the vendors (majority of them being university graduates).

I am now forced to believe that Hunzvi was better than Sten Zvorwadza, Chenjerai Hunzvi (with colleagues) started the land reform program and was consistent and died after grabbing the land from the whites and killing some ‘very few people’. He never changed his position like the current government that seems to be reversing the original objective of their (ZANU PF) land reform.

If Sten Zvorwadza could have survived during the liberation struggle, I have no doubt that he could have been [REDACTED] because of betraying the struggle (should ask Rugare Gumbo once alleged to have been thrown in a pit like Daniel for some days during the struggle). The aim of the struggle was to get political independence and the aim for Zvorwadza was to liberate the vendors on and from streets to the ‘four wall’ of formal employment.

Zvorwadza initiated the formation of the National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe because he wanted to inform Mugabe and ZANU PF that only ‘street vendor industry’ was the only viable industry left in Zimbabwe, hence it was to be promoted until the economy starts to perform.

Zvorwadza should have learnt from Madhuku, instead of (running away or leaving) NCA as an organization calling for constitutional change, he turned NCA into a political party because his aim was to take his followers to Canaan (though law practice/the love of money pulled him from his initial vision of serving the masses).

Zvorwadza should know that, the organization is more powerful than an individual, that is why some organizations kill, throw in boiled cooking oil or chase leaders who go against its founding principles. What I want to tell you is that, just like the split in the MDC (because of violations of their founding objectives of 1999), your organization will definitely follow suit.

Another original vendor will rise up like Joshua and take over from where you left. Just like Nelson Chamisa (who rose up) to take Zimbabweans to Canaan, another vendor will take your place and deliver vendors home.

I do not want to castigate Sten too much, because his contribution to the struggle shall be remembered even after our deaths but he should agree with his soul that he sold the struggle. What I want Sten to do is to give another person the button, he should not go to the extent of being forced to give the button like what happened to Mugabe.

Zvorwadza should have finished the journey, he is still young to go, however, I wish him well in his endeavors (if he is warming up for ZANU PF) ED should take him at Satan’s risk because he has demonstrated that his support is from the winds and the love of money.

May the evil spirits of Zimbabwe leave Zvorwadza alone.At one point in time when Ndabaningi Sithole was asked on who killed Chitepo, he said ‘the revolution has eaten its own children’, I am still hopeful Zvorwadza has ‘not eaten the revolution’ because the revolution is always dangerous to swallow and keep in the stomach. It is better for the revolution to eat him.

Don Chigumba is a mixed methods research specialist. He can be found on twitter @Donchigumba