By Dr Masimba Mavaza | Our country Zimbabwe has been and continues to be reduced to a pathetic spectacle by those who are tragically obsessed and fascinated with and by social media. Social media is, for far too many, a place for ditching out insults, character defamation and slanderous hate. Where has Ubuntu/Chivanhu gone?

In every corner of our beloved country, in cities, towns and rural areas are communities at the heart of which are cultures rooted in respect, honour and dignities. These values shine more when we have dissagreements.

There are too many “brave” keyboard tigers who hide behind what they tragically believe to be the safety and refuge of the keyboard and social media.

A sad example of the lunatic heights to which social media has flighted many is the leaked audio of Cde Mutswangwa speaking to a UK based pretended journalist, a certain Mr Manyowa. This is the same unscrupulous man who, in recent weeks, have had a frolic in social media manufacturing lies about the alleged operations of the security personnel in the President’s Office. In so doing he has been putting state security and public safety at risk. Even more tragically, these manufactured lies have paused and are pausing grave risk to individuals. All this he does recklessly under the guise of journalism. It is without much doubt that Manyowa is being handled by some attention seeking idiots.

Back to the leaked audio of Cde Mutswangwa. In this audio Mutswanga directs insults and abuse on the Honourable Vice President, Retired General Chivengwa. Apart from the gratuitus insults on his person and career, Cde Mutsvangwa also tresspasses on the VP’s personal and family life. Some of the language used by Cde Mutsvangwa is too graphic, unprintable and simply beyond all imaginable indecency.

First and foremost, apart from being our VP, the object of these dispicable insults is a human being, with personal feelings and a family too. All Zimbabweans of all walks of life will agree that as a person and a leader, the VP is one man who never say a single bad word about anyone, at least not in public. He holds his person and his office with the highest standard of dignity and decorum. This must be an example to all.

The VP is the vice president of our country. An insult and denigration of him in the manner that is evident on the leaked audio or at all is a definite insult not just on our country but also on the appointing authority, His President Excellency E.D Munangagwa. There is no place for any disrespect and no justification of any abuse at all, let alone such gross abuse.

Let us be clear, the VP is a decorated solidier, and hero of our struggle who served the country with distinction during the Liberation Struggle and after.

As a nation, we will always disagree and we must in a functioning democracy. When we do, the test for our maturity and the maturity of our democracy is that we do so in a manner that we remain brothers and sisters; we are responsible for the safeguarding of one another’s personal honour and dignity. The rule is to go for the ball, not for the man’s legs to break them. Whether in public or in private discourse, there is no room for abuse and insult.

Leaders, in particular, must behave and interact with one onother in a manner that is examplary to the nation, particularly to young people.

Cde Mutwangwa must be reminded that being garulous and abnoxious to those that he may want to disagree with is not strength at all. There is strenth in honour, civility and respect.

Let it be clear that education or no education that is not the issue. Countries, including ours, need integrity and leadership that is respectful and respected. In any event, where are the merits of Cde Mutwanga’s education in the leaked video?

Zanu PF as a party has policies and rules of internal engagement. Discipline, respect and commitment runs through these. If Cde Mutswanga had a valid grievience against the VP, it is buffling that he chose social media and in particular a notorious character to air this.

Cde Mutsvangwa’s actions have no doubt caused significant adverse impact on the country and on the party. I shall not comment on any impact on the VP because I am not his spokesman. However, I can generally observe that such would generally cause extreme anguish to the person targeted and to their nearest and dearest.

Zimbabweans in all walks of life expect leaders to put their hands on the plough and do the work in service of the nation rather than spend time on social media speaking to divisive characters and abusing others.
The issue of 2030 must not divide us as a party but must show our democratic marturity.
The way the party has allowed this unconstitutional issue to go unchecked is divisive.
Every ZANU PF member has a tight to agree or disagree with any opinion or resolution.
The way the party has allowe this issue to go now borders on the serious issue of State security.

The stability of the country is now put at risk and something has to be done now and right now.

There are cadres who think that disagreeing with 2030 campaign is a sign that you hate the President. This is total lunacy. ZANU PF fought for democracy and it must allow people especially its members to be democratic. There are people who now believe that the country is theirs alone hell no it is our country all of us.
It is sad that an outstanding communicator like cde Mutsvangwa stoops so low to castigate the Vice President over an issue which he is not an author of. During President Mugabe’s time Mutsvangwa was a rare breed, a candid and outspoken critic of the abuses of freedom fighters endured at the hands of the authorities,it is ironic that the abuse he fought against during the first dispensation continues to dog our heroes.

Christopher Mutsvangwa, quickly seized the opportunity and began to abuse freedom fighters, particularly the Vice President whose role in the liberation struggle, Mutsvangwa persistently strives to denigrate while elevating the role played those in his camp. The motor-mouthed Mutsvangwa was quick to use the his language to score some cheap factional political points on the esteemed VP. Cde Mutsvangwa seized the opportunity to score some cheap political points on people that Zimbabwe respects and revered as seniors during the war and in the party.
It is quite unfortunate that Mutsvangwa has used his loud mouth to portray himself as the prototypical war veteran, the embodiment of everything that the war of liberation stands for and succeeded in making himself some “Mr Zimbabwe” to whom everyone of the 17 million citizens owes some gratitude for political independence.

Despite Mutsvangwa’s distortion of history and his spirited efforts to trivialise the role played by some combatants, particularly the role played by the VP in liberating this country, stubborn historical facts would always show that Cde Chiwenga has remained a hero and is still a hero long after independence.
Mutsvangwa has always come across as someone who is unstable and bitter whenever he is not rewarded with a government post and has often used his undiplomatic, crass and uncouth language to attract attention. and eventually earn political office.
cde Mutsvangwa sought to demonise cde Chiwenga by bringing in personal issues and touching on cde Chiwenga’s marital issues. Every person knows that former Mrs Chiwenga Mary Mubaiwa Chiwenga has her cases in court. Chiwenga does not control the court or the police. It is not true that The President has offered amnesty to Mary Chiwenga. Amnesty can only be offered after conviction and sentencing. It is sad that cde Mutsvangwa lies with a straight face against Vp Chiwenga. This Lunacy should stop.

Cde Mutsvangwa knows very well that some issues should be discussed within the party. Taking this case to social media shows the moments of proper shallowness in cde Mutsvangwa’s judgement. Whateve liquid which controlled cde Mutsvangwa must be flushed from his mind.
Zimbabwe is the only country we can call ours so we must protect it from unwarranted, unprovoked, unjustified and unnecessary vomits.
War veterans like General Rugeje which Mutsvangwa tried to disrespect trained in Libya with some of the Commanders who were far senior to him. The likes of Hamunyari Tichatonga, Kenny Tauraya Simbi Chinembiri Chihombe Madhala and Felix Gambiza all members of then Zanla General Staff. Cde Mugabe Muzenda and VP Chiwenga visited these comrades while under training.

The Zanu Representative was the late National Hero Phibion Shonhiwa. Muzorewa never had troops in Libya and thus exposes Mutsvangwa’s lies. He is deliberately distorting history. Where did he fight one may ask. The word is that cde Mutsvangwa spent all his time in Maputo swimming and drinking whisky in Night Clubs. His comments against the VP are very unfortunate.

It should be noted that the war in DRC was fought by a force the size of a Division. In the military that structure is commanded by a two star General not 3 star the rank of General Chiwenga then.

Noone in Southern Africa would dare to confront the ZDF. Even the British will attest to that. ZDF is not militia nor gendermarie. They are highly professional. The VP Chiwenga holds a PhD in ethics so for Chris to suggest that the General is illiterate shows how he pathologically hates the General and how unwise are his comments.

There is a difference between between being clever and being wise.