A Zimbabwean man based in Washington DC, thinks that Tsholotsho can teach USA a thing or two about democracy. In his Ndebele poem Phithizela Ngcobo says Tsholotsho has voted for all individuals not the party. He say in 1980 Tsholotsho voted for PF Zapu. In 1995 the same constituency voted for ZANU PF, and in 2000 The voted for MDC. In 2005 they voted for an independent candidate. Reciting his poem that brought down the house in Mzilikazi celebration in Indianapolis last month, Phithi showed that he has a lot to offer as writer and public speaker.
Sizwa bathi ipolitiki yeMelika ayinhlang’ ifun’ abazimiseleyo
Loba beth’ idemocracy yavela khona kodw’ esikuzwayo kwahlukileBath’ amavoti wonke kawaqakathekanga ngoba kulamanye amastates aqakathekiley’ ekuvoteni
Algo2000 lo olebizo lesiShona uAl Gore wathol’ amavot’ amanengi kuloGanga uBush
Kodwa uGanga nguye owacin’ ebe ngumongameli ngoba evotelwe ngama states aqakathekileyoSabamba owangaphansi thina sathi kwanzima bo kant’ asibuzanga elangeni!Kwaphinda futhi ngo2008 lapho iKhozisikazi likaClinton elavotelwa ngabanengiKodwa kwacina kube liKhalath’ elingu Obama umongameli loba wayevotelwe ngabalutshwanaHawu iph’ idemocracy yenu ke bantu beMelika?
Loba beth’ idemocracy yavela khona kodw’ esikuzwayo kwahlukileBath’ amavoti wonke kawaqakathekanga ngoba kulamanye amastates aqakathekiley’ ekuvoteni
Algo2000 lo olebizo lesiShona uAl Gore wathol’ amavot’ amanengi kuloGanga uBush
Kodwa uGanga nguye owacin’ ebe ngumongameli ngoba evotelwe ngama states aqakathekileyoSabamba owangaphansi thina sathi kwanzima bo kant’ asibuzanga elangeni!Kwaphinda futhi ngo2008 lapho iKhozisikazi likaClinton elavotelwa ngabanengiKodwa kwacina kube liKhalath’ elingu Obama umongameli loba wayevotelwe ngabalutshwanaHawu iph’ idemocracy yenu ke bantu beMelika?
English translation of Ngcobo's Ndebele poem
"We hear that politics is interesting in America, it needs those who are born for it.
Even as we in Zimbabwe cherish American democracy, it is amazing that we hear that they do not count all the votes from all the voters. In 2000 there were thousands of votes that were not counted in Tallahassee Florida. This were from a poor constituency. A crazy female judge had to decide the outcome of the elections. This is how Bush won the Presidency against Al gore. There are also some important States and less important states when it come to voting for Presidents. Referring to blue and red states. Blues being Democratic Eastern states and red being Southern conservatives states. These do not normally change the way they vote. They are partisan. Also the two major political parties have to use delegates system in case of a deadlock. That means at some point, ordinary people's votes do not matter. All that matters is how the delegates vote. As it was in the case of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in 2007. Delegates decided the outcome" claims Phithi.
"We hear that politics is interesting in America, it needs those who are born for it.
Even as we in Zimbabwe cherish American democracy, it is amazing that we hear that they do not count all the votes from all the voters. In 2000 there were thousands of votes that were not counted in Tallahassee Florida. This were from a poor constituency. A crazy female judge had to decide the outcome of the elections. This is how Bush won the Presidency against Al gore. There are also some important States and less important states when it come to voting for Presidents. Referring to blue and red states. Blues being Democratic Eastern states and red being Southern conservatives states. These do not normally change the way they vote. They are partisan. Also the two major political parties have to use delegates system in case of a deadlock. That means at some point, ordinary people's votes do not matter. All that matters is how the delegates vote. As it was in the case of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in 2007. Delegates decided the outcome" claims Phithi.
Phithi is a rural Tsholotsho born and raised young man who has worked in book publishing as an editor in ZImbabwe and the UK but now training to be a teacher in Washington DC. Phithi holds a BA in ENglish and Ndebele from the University of Zimbabwe, an MA in Publishing from Oxford Brookes University UK and is currently studying for an MA in Education and Human Development at George Washington University, Washington DC.
Who said we don't have Ndebele intellectuals?
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