Letters

EDITOR – Here in Zimbabwe, we have suffered much with lack of information. Most of the time there is no electricity, no radio and no television signal. I am, therefore, appealing that you introduce a Zimbabwean daily edition that would give us information up to the election and in the post-election period. I appreciate the coming in of the Zimbabwean on Sunday.

Thank you so much for giving us researched information. You are keeping us on track.

KELVIN MBIRIRI, Masvingo

Let’s know how to vote for the best

EDITOR – To change Zimbabwe, Mugabe must go. My fellow Zimbabweans, brothers and sisters, daughters and sons, we are tired of ‘drama’. This is not the time for drama; this is not the time for opportunists. Hatichada mahumbwe, vana vedu vakura tisingavaone isu taneta. This is time for business.

Whilst we wait for the upcoming elections, may we take time to think, as Zimbabweans, about the present situation and where we have come from. I reckon everyone has suffered, emotionally, financially, physically due to the present situation in our country.

Let’s know where to place our votes, without being deceived by opportunists – those who want to grab what they never suffered for. Can we be deceived and allow deception at this moment? Please no – enough is enough!

I would have loved to write in our own language: kuti tese tinzwe, sonke sibekwazi iqiniso- sesidubekile bantu, we have suffered enough.  

We have seen a generous man, a brave man, who has suffered throughout.

SITHOKOZIKE KAMANDA, UK

Ask Mugabe the hard questions

EDITOR – We are sick of Mugabe’s gospel of them liberating this country, with the Chinotimba’s even going the extra mile to say they died for the country.

Mugabe is at it again. In The Herald, he is quoted talking at the rural people of Chipinge, saying: “Chimurenga chamakarwa ndicho chakatipa rusununguko rwakatipa masimba atakazopa madzishe edu. Saka kuvanhu tinoti rimai mapurazi atakakupai isusu seHurumende ticharamba tichikupai mapadza nematractors.”

The people of Zimbabwe did not benefit from the land reform, but Mugabe and his cronies did. So why does he not take this statement and include it in his address to the Chinotimbas and his other cronies at large who can identify with the implements and other benefits he is naming, because the rest of Zimbabwe does not identify with it.

Dabengwa in Bulawayo on Saturday is said to have thanked Mugabe for everything he has done for Zimbabwe. I beg to differ. He should have just been plain blunt and told him to get lost, for he has done greater harm to Zimbabwe than anything else. If Makoni is to wear Mugabe’s shoes, as suggested by Dabengwa, then people should be very wary of voting for him, because they might just be in for another Mugabe.

The people of Zimbabwe should be politically literate by now, especially those in the rural areas. This is because when they look around today, their sons and daughters are nowhere to be seen as they have joined the diaspora trail. Why? Simply because the living conditions have become inhumane and unbearable. Is this what these people fought for in the liberation struggle that saw Chinotimba ‘die’ for this country? Definitely no.

Therefore, let us have people ask Mugabe such questions as he travels around the country during his campaign. Let’s have him answer for the destruction of the education system and the collapse of the health system. Instead of letting him set the agenda for these campaign rallies, let us have people peacefully ask him questions rather than having people standing up to thank him for visiting them – no-one lives because of these visits or has their bills paid or medication provided.

ZVENYIKA DAWU-NDUMBA IZIMNYAMA PLUMTREE, by email

Bronze not gold Makoni

EDITOR – If indeed Mr Makoni has 90 per cent of Zanu (PF) bigwigs behind him (maybe including Uncle B), then this is cause for concern and alarm for povos like me. It’s bad enough if he has any politiburo member supporting him.

Statements like “I’m still Zanu (PF)” or “I’m not against Uncle, but for the people”, and heaven knows what other crap he’s going to pronounce before (rigged) election day, are politely described as “unfortunate” (for him).

This sounds like I’ve come to praise Caesar and not bury him. Isn’t this a common case of bank robbers who have failed to share the spoils ‘accordingly’? Anyway, I wish Makoni a shiny bronze medal on the Ides of March – but watch out for the timber spoon Junior Uncle!

MTOTS, by email

Dabengwa’s bravery

EDITOR – I am not sure whether you are being correct in analysing Dabengwa’s decision to support Makoni as a defection from Zanu (PF) as a party, as well as a threat to the so-called Unity Accord.

First and foremost, I believe Dabengwa chose not to blindly support Mugabe for president quite genuinely and that he has become man enough to disassociate with insanity – a democratic right, which he has got even within Zanu (PF) itself.

Secondly, Mugabe is not, and should not be Zanu (PF)! He is an individual like anyone else, though he considers himself more equal than others. Dabengwa’s decision not to support Mugabe for president is not necessarily a rejection of or defection from Zanu (PF).

Lastly, Dabengwa as an individual does not represent the sentiments of the people of Matebeleland, the former Zapu party, and therefore his individual actions should not be seen to have a bearing on the Unity Accord.

While I salute him completely for his bravery, I feel the above issues should be dealt with care.

ANDY, by email

Put up or shut up, Trudy

EDITOR – All very well for Trudy Stevenson to ask exiled Zimbabweans to come home for Easter and vote.  

Is she paying the return fares to their constituencies? Is she guaranteeing at least one staple meal a day and affordable accommodation to those that need it? Where was she when most Zimbabweans were made redundant? Where was she when those with children at school had to withdraw them due to an inability to pay the punitive school fees? Where was she when medical treatment and essential drugs became non-existent or priced beyond most people’s pockets?  

Which of the fragmented MDC does she represent? Has she made arrangements to facilitate prior checking of the voters’ roll over the internet to ensure that Tobiah Mudede’s Registrar-General’s office hasn’t once again substituted more names of the dead for the living? And finally what was her contribution to the disastrous constitutional talks with Zanu (PF) that failed to address the infamous prohibitive act that prejudices or deprives many Zimbabweans of their citizenship, due to an inability to trace their ancestry back to Lobengula?  

Come on Miss Trudy, lead by example. Put up or shut up!

MIKE ROOK, by email

Let’s have a white, neutral leader

EDITOR – Can anyone disband this Zanu (PF), which is full of heterogeneous tyrants? The awkward leader, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, is showing his impudence, even to the newcomer Simba Makoni, that he can even mesmerise him. Surely, at this moment, we should have noticed Mugabe’s inconspicuous dirty tactics of making people believe him.

As I am writing this open letter to all Zimbabweans, Mugabe is strengthening his security with the little foreign currency we have back home. The truth is, Mugabe has overstayed his welcome. We deserve a leader without any wrinkles and someone who knows exactly what people want. Makoni to me may even be worse than Mugabe. Why can’t we put a white man in power? Why I suggested a white man is because I am looking at tribalism. We need a neutral leader.

I call any outcome of the election result as a scam because at this moment we don’t have a leader, especially if it is a black. I have seen that no-one is ready for such a high post as a president. I will remind them that being an intellectual does not automatically make one a leader.

I am talking about Mutambara and Makoni. Tsvangirai is totally unqualified. John Nkomo is not really the kind of leader we are looking for. Let’s try Roy Bennett and support him after giving him the nod for leadership. He will bring back the past glory. I don’t trust all the leaders we have back home.

I am looking at someone who is influential and wise. I am a true Zimbabwean crying from the wilderness. Mugabe, I am not a British puppet as you think. I only see whites as the right people to bring transparent leadership.

AARON DUBE, South Africa

Vote for anyone under 60

EDITOR – With a few days before the elections, there has been much excitement in the air. I have noted that some people who used to be reserved when it came to political issues have suddenly became vocal and have been hopeful that the elections will bring much-needed change in the country.

I urge fellow registered voters to come out in their numbers and vote for the presidential candidate they want as long as it is somebody in their 50s. Victory is certain and those who doubt me must ask those who watched the geriatrics of AC Milan succumb to the youngsters of Arsenal.

History is meant to be broken and if it was broken in Italy, why can’t it be broken in Zimbabwe come the end of March. So, go vote one giant down and another one in, come the 29th!

KARUPA, Bulawayo

All sell-outs to split votes

Morgan Tsvangirai, Simba Makoni, Welshman Ncube and Dumiso Dabengwa are all sell-outs. The ploy had been well planned by Zanu to destabilisee the electorate. They want to split the MDC (Tsvangirai) votes. So, Zimbabweans, let’s be warned against this. Zimbabwean, keep on educating and briefing us on what is taking place on the ground.

KELVIN MBIRIRI, Masvingo

You’ve got the wrong Matwara

EDITOR – May we respond to an article that recently appeared in your paper regarding the distribution of maize in Mutare South. It was reported that a Mr John Matwara (an alleged Chigodora villager) complained that the incumbent MP for Mutare South, Mr Fred Kanzama, had denied opposition members access to maize.   

We wish to notify the public and other people affected by the allegations that the said person is not a member of our family and we strongly believe that there are people who are impersonating certain individuals in order to push certain political objectives.  

We are the only family that is using that surname in Chigodora and the only person in our family who has a name that is close to the one mentioned in the weekly is Jonah Matwara, who does not have anything to do with what appeared in the paper since he never engaged in any interview with your correspondent.  

We sincerely apologise to Mr Kanzama for the inconvenience caused to him and his reputation by the article.

THE MATWARA FAMILY, Chigodora

Makoni camp exposed

EDITOR – Simba Makoni has repeatedly said in media interviews that he will let

Mugabe walk away with crimes against humanity. He has proposed unity and reconciliation when he wins in the presidential elections. He finds it retrogressive to even make an attempt to delve into the happenings of the past 28 years.

Dr Makoni is being insensitive to the feelings of the victims of Mugabe’s brutality. Makoni’s position makes people suspicious of his relationship with Zanu (PF).

The MDC, on the other hand, has called for the establishment of a Truth and

Reconciliation Commission, which will ask people to voluntarily give evidence.

However, those known to have evidence and who do not volunteer it will be called upon to do so. This, in my opinion, is a reasonable approach to healing the wounds inflicted by the outgoing Government.

Perhaps Dr. Makoni’s remarks were made with full knowledge that some of his own backers were involved in the post-independence atrocities.

Dumiso Dabengwa, another political spent force, who lost dismally to MDC’s Gibson Sibanda in a previous election, and also failed dismally as head of the Zambezi Water Project, infuriated many Zimbabweans when he said: “We were defeated and ended up with a presidential candidate we felt should be replaced.”

In an interview with SW Radio Africa soon after Dr Makoni announced his presidential ambitions, Brian Kagoro warned Zimbabweans that the coming election should not be treated as a beauty contest, and that people should make a careful analysis of contenders’ intentions and programmes. Dr Makoni and his group have only exposed themselves for who they are, and Zimbabweans will not be cheated.

BENJAMIN CHITATE, by email

Makoni is a stalking horse

EDITOR – Ever since Simba Makoni declared his candidature at the beginning of February, two questions have dominated. First, is he a genuine candidate or a Zanu (PF) stooge? Second, will he win? The answers are, in summary: yes and no; yes and no. Makoni is not Robert Mugabe’s puppet. He is not there as a deliberate plant to muddy the electoral waters, to benefit the incumbent.  

But despite his own protestations, and the queue of provincial chairmen lining up to publicly distance themselves from him, Makoni is not his own man. He has no powerbase of his own within Zanu (PF). Whatever his personal qualities, the official positions he has held in the party have been in the gift of Mugabe’s patronage.

On his own, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

People not unconnected to the Mujurus have been assiduously fundraising for him in recent weeks.

Joice Mujuru and all the others can declare their loyalty to Mugabe and the party until they run out of breath, but that means nothing. Makoni is a front for the Mujuru faction. He is a Zanu (PF) stooge — just not Mugabe’s stooge. He is a stalking horse.

The last thing Makoni’s backers would want is for Makoni to win. Makoni’s task is to weaken Mugabe. Mugabe’s successor will be decided later in the smoke-filled rooms of Jongwe House. Makoni is part of a much longer game.  

ANON, by email

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