Is Bulawayo a sleeping a giant?

One thing that has always baffled my mind about the mindset of our people especially in Matabeleland region is the fact that most people do not understand the power they have at their disposal. This is in reference  to both in as consumers and as citizens in general. Many will argue that there are many factors leading to this. It would be foolish to deny that the people of this region have faced more intimidation that any other region to the point of death itself. As much as we all know that Bulawayo is traditional the political capital of Zimbabwe, since the fall of King Lobhengula back in 1893. History also has it that the biggest political movements started in Bulawayo in the early fifties all the way to the sixties. Even the present political leaders know and understand that in order for them to announce any major political developments they have to come to Bulawayo. Also a former industrial hub of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo is still positioned as a major link in the whole Southern African region. Both on rail and by road.

President Mugabe who in his time as the leader of free Zimbabwe has done everything in his power to make sure that Bulawayo and the surrounding areas are not only under developed, but also stripped of the glory that they had before Independence. President  Robert Mugabe a self confessed hater of the City of Kings has done all to render the city a white elephant. He has from time to time told his supporters how glorious the City was back in the 1940s when his father left his mother for and married Ndebele woman kontuthu "ziyathunqa". Many people suspect that young Mugabe is still fighting for the jealousy and envy caused by his father's descent. As evidenced by his madness and anger towards the region of Matabeleland back in the early eighties when he first gained power from Ian smith. Prime Minister Robert Mugabe did not waste his time flexing his power on the people of the region. This would be his only ticket to his ambitious one party state system. It is known how many people died in this operation witch hunt effort orchestrated by a military winged formed outside the normal National Army channels known as the Fifth Brigade.This were hand picked form the ZANU PF Youth supporters and brain washed trigger happy child militias.

The then ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo who at the time was the only viable opposition suffered humiliation as he had to flee to England after Mugabe had instructed every member of the army to shoot and kill him. Some estimates put the number of those who died to a least twenty to thirty thousand. It lasted over five years. Those who survived were subjected to curfews and random home raids. This strategy was effective in making sure that people understood that they were under surveillance at any point and time. Some people disappeared over night without a trace up to this very day. Dr Nkomo had no choice but to give in tot he Unity Accord agreement. This infamous Accord was successful in stopping the violence that ZANU PF had long perpetrated on Ndebele people or any ZAPU supporters in Matebeleland and Midlands. A famous Bulawayo artist Maseko would later paint Dr Joshua Nkomo signing the unity accord while he under strict security surveillance and had blood was flowing down his head . Maseko could not have put it any better. To be continued!