By Ndaba Nhuku| When Prof Welshman Ncube took over the leadership of MDC from Mutambara during that 2008 GNU, for some still unknown reasons the then Zanu leader Mugabe and MDC T leader Tsvangirai would lock him out of the meetings he was also meant to attend as one of the principals. The issue became tribalised.

I warned several times that Mugabe and Zanu should not push Matabeleland’s moderate leaders like Prof Ncube out of politics. I emphasised that doing so was tribalism that would bring forth radicals who feel frustrated that their own Ndebele leaders are not recognised. When radicals are forced to come out they will silence the voice of nation builders like Prof Ncube.

I again said that South Africa has many such frustrated young Ndebeles who are aghast with the way Prof Ncube was being treated. Once they got fed up they will listen to no other leader but their own frustrations and anger. They will not care about elections results. I warned that those young Ndebeles in SA who are still fuming about Gukurahundi will one day lend support to the marginalised and discriminated against folks in Matabeleland.

Yesterday, Bulawayo did what l warned against. Was l surprised? No! Was l angry? No. Do l support those young fellas? I very much relate to their frustrations because l saw it coming years ago and noone cared. You can not push people around for too long and expect them to stay silent. I warned Mugabe years ago. When the issue of shouting down Ndebele speaking MPs in parliament was raised, noone supported them.

Instead they were being told that they are a minority with Chinotimba allegedly saying “handinzve Ndevere ini” Really? One of the main official languages in Zimbabwe? We criticised that conduct. We warned it will cause problems. Batirai may as well not speak Shona in the Bulawayo chambers because ‘abazwa isiShona!!” Nomatter how few people are, never push them to a corner until they say enough is enough.

Soon before and after the coup l warned about the “Chinhu Chedu” nonsense. Uncaringly, Mnangagwa went on to set up a Karanga Admin that excluded Zezurus. And when l raised the issue it was defended and justified by others “you didn’t complain when Mugabe ran a Zezuru govt!” I did when he ill-treated Ndebele leaders!! And l am warning again before ED makes public his new cabinet. If it’s a Karanga dominated one, one day the Zezurus and others will do what you saw in Bulawayo yesterday.

Note this.
1. Earlier this year, Shona speaking MDC Alliance supporters in Johannesburg refused to listen to Prof Ncube when he addressed them in Ndebele.

2. Obert Mpofu and Priscilla Misihairabwi have been stopped from talking in Ndebele inside Parliament.

3. During the 2018 Presidential Elections, there are many who twitted about Thoko Khuphe saying “ndichivhotera muNdevere kuti ndaakupenga here?”

Every one with an identity want it recognised and respected. At least Mugabe tried his tribal balancing hence the likes of Mnangagwa were in powerful positions under the artificial Shona tag. We now know the tag is no longer as strong, because we are seeing Karanga dominance pushing the Shona tag away. Bulawayo is an example of what lies ahead if the tribalism in Zim is not dealt with. Yes, Batirai will go down in history as the fool who stoked the flame and raised the Matabeleland identity crisis to the fore.
Personally, at this point, l say Bulawayo voted for Alliance councillors and they must let them choose their own Mayor. Imposing a Shona mayor by any means for any reasons may spell the death of both Zanu and the Alliance in Matabeleland and completely silence moderate politicians whilst giving radicals an upper hand. Let reason and common sense prevail. Let the Councillors choose the man they want to be their mayor. Bulawayo needs a strong unifying leader like ZIMBABWE does today. The Karanga hegemony must cease. The Shona lie must be confronted and stopped. Both serve noone. History has a way of repeating itself.