EDITOR – Although tobacco delivery to the auction floors has increased, the hectarage for the staple diets, corn and wheat, has dwindled. The price of cereal products have gone up. For example, 20kg of maize has shot to $6 from $3, with grain deficits due to mismanagement of priorities and poor planning.
More farmlands, such as Chipangayi and Chisumbanje, in Chipinge are under bio-fuel crops. With deserts already forming in some parts in Nyanga and south along the Limpopo, precipitation is likely to be low, now and the future. Soils are exhausted and farmers are feeding the crops with chemicals. – Mike Muda, Harare.
Escalation of violence
EDITOR – I note with great concern the acts of security forces and youth militia in attacking and forcing MDC members from their homes. This has always been the act of Zanu (PF) members, especially in the run up to elections. The violence that has taken place in Manicaland and Mashonaland Central is likely to become the intimidation pattern of Zanu (PF) if it is not adequately dealt with right now.
These actions go against the spirit of free and fair elections and undermine peace and stability in the country. In the Zvimba area, a Mugabe stronghold, it is reported that soldiers conducted a door-to-door purge of MDC members and five people were severely beaten, with most of them being forced to flee their homes.
In another report a military camp has been set up in Makoni south where villagers are being forced to attend Pungwe’s and sing Zanu (PF) songs. The security sector’s involvement in Zimbabwean politics is one of the key factors that SADC wants addressed ahead of the elections.
The government should protect the rights of people against the interference of security forces and militias. The people of Zimbabwe should be allowed to participate freely in the political affairs of the society to which they belong. – Danford Zimuto, London
Thank you brave Apostolic Faith members
EDITOR – Members of the Apostolic Faith who have been secretly filming their leaders sloganeering and campaigning for Zanu (PF) in the pulpit deserve a big thank you from all progressive Zimbabweans. The evidence collected becomes handy at a time when monitors from the SADC Troika are on their way to help Jomic in monitoring progress on the political situation. There is no better evidence to show that God is working against the forces of Satan, even when they come disguised as church leaders.
However, I wouldn't want to be quick to blame the church leaders who were captured by the footage, because everyone knows that they will have been forced to do so by Zanu (PF). But if these church leaders are real men of God working against God in fear of Zanu (PF), the exposure is a good opportunity for them to confess who instructed them to do so.
I hope that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will use his office to invite these church leaders to confess to the Principals of the GPA who it is in Zanu (PF) that is responsible for the politicisation of the church. Mugabe should never refuse to have these church leaders to make such confession because he himself has distanced himself from violence, saying that he has done his part, but is not listened to.
I also hope the SADC monitors will quickly be deployed. It will be good if the enlarged JOMIC team, comprising all main political parties, becomes operational immediately, and issues weekly reports to the Troika on the state of violence in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabweans want peace, not violence. We want out freedom of choice to be respected, not taken advantage of by compromised church leaders, and blood-thirsty political leaders. – Benjamin Chitate, New Zealand
Dictators fall, just like in 1979
EDITOR – In a cynical way, 2011 resembles the eve of Zimbabwe’s political independence, 1979. Three harsh African dictators fell in 1979: Idi Amin Dada, Macas Nguema Negue Ndong and Emperor Bokasa I.
Idi Amin, the infamous Ugandan President of eight years was deposed in April 1979 by an invasion force from neighbouring Tanzania consisting of Ugandan exiles and regular Tanzanian troops. The guy has gone down in the dustbin of history as the cruellest ruler ever to come out of Africa. In this category of cruel rulers from Africa, competition is quite stiff, believe me. It’s estimated that close to 300 000 Ugandans fell through executions, torture and other actions under his regime. After being deposed in 1979 where did he go? He was reported to be living in Libya.
In August 1979, Equatorial Guinea’s President, Macias Nguema was deposed by troops loyal to his nephew. He was arrested in a jungle hideout after his opponents accused his government of being responsible for the deaths of up to 50 000 citizens. At that time Equatorial Guinea had a population of about 340 000. He was found guilty and executed.
The Emperor Bokasa I of the Central African Empire was overthrown in a bloodless coup. The guy had killed school children who refused to buy uniforms from a store belonging to his wife.
After these dictators had been uprooted, and Ian Smith had played out his puppet show with Muzorewas, Zimbabwe gained its political independence. Today, over 30 years later, winds of change are again sweeping over Africa. Dictators have fallen in Egypt, Tunisia and in Ivory Coast. Dictators are fast becoming an endangered species in the mother continent. Which dictator will be uprooted next?
Disappointingly, the first class of African politicians turned out to be worse devils than the White man. Most turned the office of the President into chiefdom or monarchy and repressed any dissenting voices and brought a reign of terror in their respective countries. Assassinations and coups became the order of the day and the only way up the political ladder. It was into this dirty scenario that the young nation of Zimbabwe was born.
The African Union has been a great disappointment. It has failed to put interests of Africans first, but has only protected dictators. Africa’s democracies and economies have failed to grow and develop because too much power has been vested in a single individual and power corrupts. – Mpumelelo Ndlovu, by email
The truth behind spiritual bondage
EDITOR – I was interested to read of the recent outreach to Chivi by Zimbabwe for Jesus. One of the members of the prayer group with which I am involved is a former n’anga who actually comes from the Chivi district, and he confirmed to us all that was said by the ZFJ team. It is amazing how uninformed some people are about the true nature of spiritual things.
Certainly we whites we have been too ignorant and naive for too long. It is only since our eyes have been opened through becoming fully involved in the Body of Christ and learning from each other that we can see the real problems behind so much that holds people in spiritual bondage. This has enabled us to pray more effectively, and to stand against this bondage. Praise God we are now staring to see the chains breaking. – Prayer Warrior, Harare
No demons in Chivi
EDITOR – I am of the opinion that your article “Many healed in Chivi meetings” last Sunday is a dangerous misrepresentation of the people of Chivi and their social anthropology.
People from Chivi cannot be described as, "a community that has been horribly bound in darkness.” To say that Chivi people worship “demons” is both insensitive and irresponsible generalisation on the part of the “enlightened” journalist.
For the record Chivi Mission School is not only one of the oldest Missions in Masvingo but in Zimbabwe as a whole. It was established by the Dutch Reformed Church missionaries who were the harbingers of the colonialists. Another High School, Berejena Mission, was established soon after. Many other small primary schools were later strewn all over the district. Perhaps Chivi is the last place I would go to look for demon worshippers.
One graduate from a rural secondary school in the area, Joshua Foromera, is currently pursuing a degree in Neuroscience at Duke University, USA. Add to this the UK based editor, Benjamin Takavarasha Murabwi (Chivi), of the Catholic News Journal – a religious journal that commands international readership.
Only those of a Shumba Murabwi totem are the Chivis. Not all people from Chivi are “Murabwi”. Murabwi are those from the chieftain ancestry. How the name Chivi came about was that some rivalry ensued between the ruling Households of Chief (She – Mambo) of Nyanigwe District (now Chivi District) and there was a battle that led to the defeated side driven across the Lundi River. The victors shouted to the defeated, “ Mazvihwa!” meaning “you have had it”. The response was, “Chivi chawo!” Meaning “you have transgressed”.
There is now a district called Mazvihwa just to the west of Chivi across Lundi River in the Midlands. So that how it all started. This had nothing to do with religious beliefs, faith or worshipping of demons as portrayed in your article. One of the mostly documented traits of the people of Chivi is their bravery and resilience demonstrated during the various wars and debilitating drought periods. – John Huruva, by email
Why ignore Tekere?
EDITOR – I'm a Zimbabwean who is always in love with your newspapers. No issue is on the street without me grabbing two copies, one for myself and the other for my neighbour. I was really shocked and devastated by the way you totally ignored to cover the death of our champion of democracy – Edgar Zivanai Tekere.
All Zimbabweans respected that guy and most took courage from him but to ignore the coverage of his death by any media house, is a disrespect to his spirit to democracy and a slap on us the readers.
All the two issues ignored the coverage only to give a small editor's comment. Was he supposed to be MDC to get coverage? Tekere is the champion who defended the country from taking the one party state route. He fought tooth and nail for multi-party democracy. Though you ignored his death, I always found him with all issues of your newspapers and he admired the way you cover political issues. – George Hukuimwe, Mutare
Post published in: Letters to the Editor