Maravi

(HERALD) Zim’s sovereignty is irreversible

Zim’s sovereignty is irreversible

EDITOR — There is a Zimbabwean element that believes that Zimbabwe’s independence, let alone sovereignty, are irrelevant. They believe that these aspects of our nationhood are reversible.

Last Saturday, one of these elements, ROHR (Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe), described as a radical human rights group, convened in the city centre around 10am with the hope of sending a message to the Sadc Troika "to take up a hard stance on the political parties, especially Zanu-PF and President Mugabe, to own up to their agreements under GPA".

The emblazoned ROHR on the T-shirts made one wonder whether Rhodies had made that daring move of reincarnation.

The irony was the message on the back of their T-shirts: "We will die for our rights." Meanwhile, a gallant son of the soil who had died for the true rights of the people of this country was being interred at the national shrine.

As if ROHR’s actions were not enough, we then learnt that MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai — who is the Prime Minister — was also playing golf as Cde Makasha was being laid to rest.

Not only was this very unfortunate, but it was also very embarrassing for someone in his position to be doing that. It was unfeeling to say the least. What was there to celebrate?

Although former US ambassador to Zimbabwe James D. McGee, who introduced Tsvangirai to the game, is gone, it is not difficult to hazard guesses of whom he was playing golf with.

There are still so many of them, and since golfing gives opportunities to discuss "serious" issues, the ‘‘disengagement’’ was probably the issue as they teed off.

The 11th hour is notable!

Did Tsvangirai give a thought to that?

To the Anglo-Saxons and not just the Rhodies, the 11th month, 11th day and 11th hour are significant, for this is the day and time when they honour their heroes from the First World War that ended in 1919.

Anglo-Saxons commemorate this day normally called Armistice Day very religiously. However, the renegade Rhodesian leader Ian Smith in 1965 declared a Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Britain on the 11th of the 11th of the 11th of 1965.

It was Smith’s action that made people like Cde Makasha leave home to take up arms and fight for the independence and true rights of this country.

With this little bit of historical context, the nation should ask what Tsvangirai’s actions meant, and what an independent Zimbabwe means to him and his party?

Nomagugu M’simang.
Harare.

Labels: INDEPENDENCE, NGOs

posted by MrK @ 12:19 AM