By Mthulisi Hanana
Matebeleland had in the past always provided leadership at critical moments in the history of this country. This dates back to the inception of the Ndebele state, to resistance to colonialism, to Queen Lozikeyi reign, to early Nationalist Movements, to the mighty ZPRA right up to the formation of the MDC. I am of the opinion that one of the gravest mistakes of the MDC was the 2005 split that robbed the MDC of great minds of Welshman Ncube, David Coltart, Gibson Sibanda, Fletcher Dulini, Paul Themba, and many others. I am in no way implying that Matebeleland leaders are superior to leaders from other regions but raising the point that Matebeleland leaders are as up to the task as everybody else. There is need therefore, to have leaders from the region fighting for space, supported, acknowledged and recognised.
Since the Mugabe reign, from the 1980 ethnic census disguised as elections to date, leaders from the region seem to have been relegated to novices in the context of national political discourse. This has continues even to date.
Activists from Matebeleland are the latest victims of Hararerisation of the struggle. This is not only done by Harare but it is perpetuated by some within the region. I try and explain how this is so in this article. Please note that these are personal observations.
- Battle for Prominence in Matebeleland (the next Joshua Nkomo)
There seems to be a behind the scenes of who is the legitimate Matebeleland leader or who will replace Joshua Nkomo. This has been the greatest undoing for our people. It is the most divisive aspect of our collective struggles. It results in local leadership not complimenting each other but competing against each other. Some amongst us are quick to partner with Harare so as to be pseudo representatives of Matebeleland in Harare platforms. Our collective ability to bargain or even bring local issues to the national table is thoroughly undermined in the process.
- Lack of Solidarity
I don’t know why but there seems to be limited solidarity around local activists. I remember when Josphat Mzaca Ngulube was detained and eventually sentenced to 7 years in prison, there was never a hashtag for him. However when our counterparts in Harare are persecuted we are all seen in the I stand with so and so and Free so and so hashtags. Our people from the region will tell you that they don’t know you or you are not big enough. What lame excuses. At worst they will tell you they don’t know what we stand for. Currently, we have Nigel Ndlovu, Lillian and Nyasha going to court. They give updates about their case. Generally, none cares. Mzingaye Thaka a 20 year old was arrested. He did not trend but Ngadziore is trending. We just need to stand with ours, tell their story till it gets the attention at national level.
- Skepticism
Somehow, our people are skeptical about each other. I remember when the state broke into my house I called alot of people that night. One of our respected activists asked me to prove that I am not making everything up. I couldn’t believe my ears. I call you at 2am and you ask me to prove that my life is under threat. What madness! Alot of our cadres now opt to suffer in silence. This is because each time they call for help, our own people are quick to say ‘sebedinga imali, relevance, clout, visas or attention’. Sadly this narrative seems to be touted by those amongst us against us and rarely in reference to Hararians.
- Lack of Media Coverage.
Media plays a key role in any struggle. It is thus prudent that we give our activists as much media coverage as possible. Even social media is a good tool. Retweet their story, share in WhatsApp groups and everywhere else. Sadly, our people want to tell our story when we die or are harmed. Should you escape, your story is not Newsworthy. Some activists have been in hiding since July, they have lost jobs and means of survival. They now survive on handouts. Before they can be helped, there is need that they prove their story. The fastest way of doing so is by googling their name or checking if it was reported by anyone, especially known local media. Many a times, Matebeleland Activists are not covered in the media. I was shocked when I checked how many times my story, reported by International media, was reported by local media. Bulawayo 24 has been our shining light in this regard. Once media does not cover us, we become low hanging fruits for the state. When I felt unsafe, I decided to grow my Twitter account. I moved from 300 in May to 5000 currently. It helps. Otherwise I would have remained relatively unknown.
- Poor political Organisation.
The other haranguing factor of our struggle in the region is that locally led political parties are not visible on the ground (except MRP). As a result when activists speak on issues the politicians feel undermined or threatened. As such they don’t embrace us. They castigate us. Should we get into trouble for speaking out, they celebrate. Actually, when the state eliminates activists, it is to the advantage of these political parties. They don’t offer any support or solidarity to local Activists. Even if we ask for support, they don’t mince their words. We are not one of them, they say. On the other hand MDC Alliance seems to embrace everyone. Whether it is sincere or not is secondary. I for one have Nelson Chamisa checking on me every week. I am not a member of his party but he calls or sends a WhatsApp message just to check if am okay. I saw Job Sikhala checking on Mduduzi Mathuthu the other day. Where are our own leaders. Our own political leaders are quiet. We meet them by chance when the threat has subsided only for them to say ‘Ngezwa mntanami. Selinjani kodwa’ At worst I have been offered assistance on condition that I join a certain political party. Imagine. Our political parties must learn to stand with local Activists
- The being used tag
Our people don’t trust us. Everytime we rise and speak, they are the first to say Harare is using us. This is an insult to my Revolutionary Resolve. Are they saying people from our region have no capacity to speak out against injustice without being influenced by Harare? For instance, I designed and distributed #ZanuPfMustGo masks without a Harare partnership but our people felt that I was being used by Harare. As a result of this Kusetshenziswa tag, we don’t get help in the day of trouble as the expectation is that our Harare Handlers are taking care of us
- The struggle is in Harare
There is a general notion that the struggle is in Harare and Harare Activists are superior. All rapid response mechanisms seem to be in Harare. Local Activists have to report to some Harare person who has never heard of them. We need to submit resumés as we are relatively unknown. I remember Mduduzi Mathuthu complaining after being sent a rookie lawyer by ZLHR. Josphat has in the past raised the same concern. Somehow the ‘real fighters’ are in Harare, thina singabakhaphi, we are the bridal train. I remember Fadzai Mahere querying Thandekile Moyo credentials in the Activism trenches. By marching one day she felt qualified to castigate someone who has been in the trenches longer simply because she had not seen her in Harare. What is saddening is that our own Harare is Laker loyalists did not defend Thandekile from Fadzai. This must change. Zimbabwe is not Harare.
- Limited Resources
Our people, tempestuous as we are, seem not to have mechanisms to meaningfully stand with their Activists. There is no emergency fund on standby, no safe houses and no mechanisms to assist and alert the world of the persecution of our people. This is normal judging our context. What is abnormal is that we are then refered to as Sellouts once we get help from elsewhere or decide to abandon the struggle due to lack of support. We are expected to be content and consoled by words like ‘istruggle sinjalo’ when our children are hungry. Our people are comfortable with a self sustained cadre who also funds the struggle. Should you ask them to meaningfully and materially support those in the trenches they are quick to say the struggle is voluntary.
- The Tribal Card
It seems once one is from Matebeleland, there is a notion that they are tribal. We continuously have to explain how the Matebeleland struggle is a national struggle. We are viewed as tribalists with a Ndebele supremacist agenda. We are not trusted. We are isolated. This is regardless of the fact that all this is not true. Our Harare counterparts are quick to push this narrative to elbow us from the national context and to alienate us from the people
It’s hard to be an Activist in Matebeleland
Mthulisi Hanana is a political activist and Human Rights Defender from Matebeleland. He is currently is exile. He believes that the people of Zimbabwe must do whatever is necessary to get their freedom from Zanu Pf.