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(HERALD) Patsanza: True Pan-Africanist

Patsanza: True Pan-Africanist
By Lisburn Webster Mandizvidza

THE day 23 May 2009 will hover over this nation as a dark cloud. On this day, Zimbabwe lost an academic luminary, journalist, commentator and writer, Arthur Jim Patsanza, the son of Peter Paradzai Pasipamire Patsanza and Antoinnette Marjorie Sibusisiwe Patsanza.

Patsanza was an accomplished writer. Here was a man who understood the immense power of the pen. Arthur Jim Patsanza did whatever he did with unparalleled passion and meticulousness.

Commenting on his book, "Our Zimbabwe: An Element of Political Economy", which was published by Govazvimwe Mukuruwenzira Publishers, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Nathan Shamuyarira had this to say: "I have read it and find it a good elementary book on the governmental system of Zimbabwe. The work is a suitable teaching aid in secondary schools and useful reading for undergraduates."

The man was an avid reader.

This is demonstrated by the numerous book reviews he did. For one to write a good review, one should have read the book and understood the theme so that one can point out the strengths and/or weaknesses of the document.

The man had tons of energy.

The man had a passion for history and was a Pan-Africanist par excellence. He penned an article entitled "Rhodes believed an African was like a child", which was published in The Sunday Mail of 15 September 2002.

In this article he reflected on the patronising behaviour of the white community vis-à-vis the intelligence of the blacks.

In his article, Patsanza posits that Cecil John Rhodes’ attitude towards life strongly influenced the historical trend in Zimbabwe

Several of Rhodes’ biographers concur that:

l Rhodes thought that Africans were 2 000 years behind whites in as far as development or civilisation was concerned;

l Rhodes regarded Africans as second-class citizens;

l Rhodes did not like to see Africans display any real independence of spirit and he did his best to suppress it;

l Rhodes forbade Africans to drink liquor;

l Rhodes denied Africans the vote;

l Rhodes did not want Africans to live side by side with whites. He was an apostle of apartheid or segregation;

l Rhodes wanted Africans to remain in a social economic stratum lower than that of whites, as a matter of business, to be kept down to a level which should ensure servility to their white employers and exploiters;

l Rhodes believed an African was like a child. His labelling of Africans as children coincides with Dr Albert Schweitzer’s view that an African adult is like a child and, as such, should be overseen by whites;

l Rhodes strongly held the crude colonial belief that the welfare of a country can be permanently based on fear felt by the majority, for a powerful ruling minority.

He is reported to have once said: "Well, you should not spare them. You should kill, kill all you can, as it serves as a lesson to them when they talk things over at their fires at night. They count up the killed, and say so-and-so is dead, and so-and-so is no longer here, and they begin to fear you."

It is this knowledge of the psyche of the colonisers that helped people of Arthur’s ilk to understand the evils of colonialism.

Arthur thoroughly understood that some of the Rhodies, even in present-day Zimbabwe, are incorrigible racists.

It helped him to maintain his political bearings and to deepen his African consciousness.

In the same article, Arthur exhibited his profound understanding of local history.

He wrote on the Chivero clan, stating that Chief Chivero narrated to him and others the origins of the Chivero people (found in Mhondoro) from Guruuswa (Burundi); how they saved Prince Munhumutapa as he fled from spear-wielding attackers — he was hidden in a bush and hence part of the praises of the Chivero — Gwenzi rakaviga mambo.

They were told that the spirit of Gwenzi and Gumbo reShumba, all spirit mediums of the Chivero clan, were at the forefront of the first liberation war.

With all his education, Arthur Jim Patsanza had an ear for everybody.

Unassuming he was, but disarmed the proud through his humility. Those who had the honour of interacting with him confess that you would go away enriched.

I was privileged to have interacted with him, his education was not a barrier but a means to understand and make society better.

The man was poetic.

I cannot forget a poem he wrote when his father passed away. The two lines that were etched in my memory are;

When we thought you had gone; you were sleeping;

When we thought you were sleeping; you had gone.

Arthur Jim Patsanza; ours, Kare Nhasi Mangwana.

At Dandaro you left us.

In Chikomba; to be precise, at Kwenda, they are saying:

Maita Shava Mwendamberi;
Hekani Nhuka; Zvaonekwa
Chivero; Gwenzi rakaviga Mambo;
Mazurukuwanda, Karimugukwa;
Iwe karimudunhu uchizvinzwira;
Mvurayadzongwa; matangakunwa;
Varimberi vanonwa tsvene;
Veshure vanonwa mabvondwe,
Vokwa zongororo kunava;
Ariona ati rakafa;
Wozowona nomuhwezhwa, VeChiyanike Magochera,
Hekani Chiodza, Vari Tsonzo, VeChidavaenzi, mune mhembwe chena Mwana wechikonochengwe.
Zvaitwa Mhofuyomukono; Chizo-rorai Norukaho Mukonde Masvinga amambo.
Zvaonekwa Shava yangu yiyi.

Labels: ARTHUR JIM PATSANZA, CECIL RHODES, PANAFRICANISM

posted by MrK @ 9:13 PM