Political analysts and civic organisations have said Zanu PF officials from Matabeleland are equally responsible as their principal President Robert Mugabe for the under-development of the region.
This comes following an article by Bulawayo resident minister Cain Mathema claiming that the under-development of the region was a myth created by civic groups and political parties working with the West.
However, the civic society and analysts said by their denial, the Zanu PF officials were not in touch with the aspirations of the people of Matabeleland but were serving party interests at the expense of the voting majority.
Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association coordinator Rodrick Fayayo said the officials have benefited from the Zanu PF regime and are under the false belief that everyone else benefited.
“They benefited from the regime as individuals but the communities did not benefit anything. By that they are guilty of marginalising people in the region.
“One crisis is that these people are not representing Matabeleland but Zanu PF in Matabeleland.
“They have no constituency in Matabeleland so they have to sing for their supper. Some of them cannot even win a rigged election so it is part of their survival method to please their master at the expense of the people.”
Analysts said because most of these leaders were not elected by the people but appointed by President Mugabe, they were nothing but ambassadors of Zanu PF in Matabeleland.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
They said because most of the officials have isolated themselves from the people, they have to go out of their way to please President Mugabe for appointments at the expense of the people.
Brilliant Mhlanga, an academic based in the United Kingdom, said this is akin to selling out.
“It is sad that selling out has become fashionable in Matabeleland. Dating back to the days of the liberation struggle, some people have sold out Matabeleland. We saw it during Gukurahundi when some people even suggested cleansing themselves of their Ndebele identity. The business of selling out continues even today as we have seen it in all parties that pretend to be national parties. People from this region are in leadership positions in those parties as a token of ensuring that these parties’ interests in the region are safeguarded. How else would you explain the suffering of the people of Matabeleland?” he said.
Spokesperson of Ibhetshu Likazulu pressure group Mqondisi Moyo said: “We are convinced that they have a role to play because most of them are appointees and not elected by the people hence their denialist approach to critical issues that affect the region.”
Moyo said the leaders had compromised the interests of the people “that is why now the likes of Minister Moses Mzila Ndlovu are arrested when they want to address the issue of the Gukurahundi atrocities, something that could have been solved a long time ago”.
Political analyst Effie Ncube said the Zanu PF leaders in Matabeleland had “immensely contributed to the underdevelopment of the region”.
“If Mathema is to write such an article it means these leaders also support the inhumane treatment that the people were subjected to during the days of Gukurahundi.
“They are not representative of the interest of the people from region in any aspect. They should be held completely responsible for the underdevelopment of the region.”
Bulawayo Agenda coordinator Thabani Nyoni said the leaders were part of the Zanu PF government that failed to see the conclusion of the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project that could have “seen the livelihoods of the people improving”.
Nyoni said the officials do not “answer to the people because they do not have constituencies”.
“People like Mathema and his colleagues are disconnected from the plight of the people. They cannot win any constituencies. They are Mugabe’s puppets. He has no budget or action plan that’s why at times he stoops so low to fight with councillors.”
Renowned playwright Cont Mhlanga said marginalisation of Matabeleland has been there since the pre-colonial days.
“The story of Zimbabwe has always been a tale of two cities. That is why Salisbury was made a double capital for Southern Rhodesian and the federation. It then continued after independence so it is surprising why someone would say that the issue is a myth.
Mhlanga said the marginalisation of the region was so clear in the arts, where he has worked all his life.
“If you look in the arts sector, how many programmes are aired on national television and radio produced from this part of the country. Does it mean we do not have producers in the region? Does it mean programmes worthy of airing on national television are produced outside the region?”
Mhlanga said the fact that Montrose Studios in Bulawayo “has been turned into a cave yet when the likes of Mathema went to war saying they did not want the Rhodesians, there were programmes from this region being aired in that studio.”
