On the 19th of December 2016, former MDC legislator and former Minister in the Organ of National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration and a ZIPRA veteran of the 1970’s liberation war announced the formation of a Matebeleland National political outfit known as Alliance for National Salvation (ANSA).
The tough talking Mzila fired the first shot about who ANSA is and declared that Matebeleland had, “…continued to bear the burden of Zimbabwean unity.”. Mzila was quick to remind those in politics in Zimbabwe that, “The country that Zimbabwe is today is an amalgamation of two nations-Matebeleland and Mashonaland-after the colonial defeat of the two groups of people”
Mzila further went on to remind the political fraternity of Zimbabwe about the “burden of unity” between the two nations of Mashonland and Matebeleland, that has failed to work on an equal basis declaring that, “Ideally, the burden of unity should have been shared equally before and after independence. The winning side, in this case Mashonalnd elites, should be the ones carrying the burden of this unity. However, Joshua Nkomo and his Zapu are the ones who carried the burden of this unity soon after independence. It is so bad that Mashonaland politicians have the luxury of forming regional parties and fish for deputies in Matebeleland”
The straight talking and no nonsense Mzila did not beat about the bush regarding the need for Matebeleland people to look at themselves for their own “Salvation” rather than looking at outsiders to be their saviours. He roared, “We have gone through trials and tribulations since 1890s to this day. Some of us have not lived to see the next day. Nevertheless, we are sons and daughters of warriors, brave men and women. It is a form of bravery to back down when faced with a difficult situation yet I it is cowardice not to analyse the situation one is caught up in and find a solution”
Mzila underscored the fact that Matebeleland people need “an urgent answer” to their challenges and seemed to point to the fact that the times to live in fear of being brutalized are gone. “The effects of the heavy storms and the cyclones have gone, and gone for good”, he said in his issued statement.
Mzila’s party adds another dimension in terms of diverse Matebeleland politics that is currently flooded with Restoration politics and Devolution politics. It remains to be seen how formidable ANSA shall become in changing the dynamics of the politics at play in Matebeleland. Mzila and his followers talk of "Salvation" of Matebeleland and are yet to convince many that ANSA is the vehicle for that salvation. The stage seems set for a rough political tumble in Matebeleland in order to win the hearts and minds of its people. Mzila and ANSA seem to be firing a warning political shot to political competitors in Matebeleland.
- Source: ANSA, umthwakazireview.com
Tags: ANSA, Moses Mzila Ndlovu, Matebeleland, Mashonaland,
No comments:
Post a Comment