By Simba Chikanza| If MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa insulted Zimbabwe’s great swimmer, Kirsty Coventry, then Jesus Christ of the Bible perhaps insulted His own mother when he used near-similar terms in the following exact words, “Woman, what have I to do with you [why do you trouble me], My time has not yet come.” With the latter statement, Jesus used a deep affectionate Hebrew-Aramaic term to speak to his mother in what would have been spelt as the worst insult on earth if read out in a Shona, English, Ndebele, or Zulu on a flat translation. That would have been the greatest sin deserving eternal judgment; but, no, it was not at all an insult.
But a politician could easily take that statement and read it in English or Shona to lay claim Jesus attacked his own mother. For thousands of years no Jew has named Jesus as an abuser of his mother, not even one, why? Because they understood what he said as spoken in the original tongue.
So, what exactly did Nelson Chamisa say in Chitungwiza? The following were his exact words translated into English while attacking Emmerson Mnangagwa:
“I saw he (Mnangagwa) had literally dragged our great daughter of these days, this one who swims, kanodhida aka (Karanga term meaning skilful swimmer). Our skilful swimmer I saw her now; surely how could he do this guys, to take our skilful swimmer? Why are you (Mnangagwa) troubling the skilful swimmer? Chisa Mpama Chisa, Izenzo!”
This is all Chamisa said and it has been translated into a whole thesis to claim that he is a woman abuser.
It appears many Zimbabweans became instantly carried away by the drivel, in such a way so they would never see the real insult on Kirsty Coventry by Mnangagwa as he lumped the great swimmer (kanodhidha kedu aka) with a fraudster, the fake medical doctor who has now been put in charge of Zimbabwe’s hospitals, Obediah Moyo.
Last night I hosted Karanga linguists who gave the below analysis – VIDEO:
VIDEO LOADING BELOW
By Nkululeko Sibanda (Presidential Spokesperson)
The President Advocate Nelson Chamisa has the utmost respect for Zimbabweans and holds the newly appointed minister Kirsty Coventry, with high regard. As he did at the rally yesterday, the President holds with reverence her lifetime of sacrifice in raising the Zimbabwe flag.
We would like to emphasise what the President said in Shona yesterday, which is that Kirsty Coventry is ‘our swimmer’. That she is a swimmer who has made this country proud and excited, even when there was nothing else to smile about. He affectionately referred to Kirsty Coventry, albeit, in Shona as ‘our swimmer’!
For this reason, we de-emphasise the ill-intended rampant social media insinuation that the use of Shona was wrong. The use of Shona in a speech on one of Zimbabwe’s greatest sports-persons, is neither a crime nor should it be used as an excuse for whipping emotions. This is irresponsible, wrong and frankly unacceptable.
The President praised and honoured Kirsty Coventry and encourages Zimbabweans to continue to respect and honour our heroic sons and daughters. People must desist from bastardising the use of local languages.
The point that the President makes is that the addition of Kirsty and Ncube in a cabinet led by an illegitimate president, will not be enough to rig ZANU PF’s way into legitimacy.