Mapfumo: Boot Bob out, Zimbabwe not his

Chimurenga rebel … Thomas Mapfumo

EXILED Chimurenga music guru Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo has challenged Zimbabweans to rise against President Robert Mugabe in 2016, saying failure to pay government workers was a result of “his bad economic policies” and “bad governance” that have “destroyed” the country.

In his end of year message which he sent to the media Thursday, the exiled musician said for neglecting workers and destroying people’s houses Mugabe and his Zanu PF deserved to be booted out of power.

“As the curtain comes down on 2015, I am touched by the plight of  the working class people of Zimbabwe who are working hard every day but not getting their salaries ,” said Mapfumo.

“This year, we also saw our economy shedding jobs, houses destroyed, levels of inequality continuing to rise and more people getting afflicted by the deepening poverty.”

His message comes after government, for the first time since independence, failed to pay state workers’ salaries.

Civil servants, who have threatened to strike in 2016, went on Charismas holiday without pay and are also going to spend the New Year holiday without receiving their December salaries.

Mapfumo said the government should prioritise the plight of the workers and the poor people of Zimbabwe who are bearing the brunt due of bad governance and bad policies.

“Zimbabweans are suffering and looking up to you for answers and solutions, therefore, you must change your ways; leadership is about the people and not your selfish interests. Zimbabwe is not your personal property, inyika yevanhu,” said Mkanya.

The US-based Mapfumo said Zimbabweans show Mugabe the exit door in 2016 or else “you” will die silently.

“The people voted for you to improve their lives neither to suppress them nor to destroy their houses,” said Mapfumo.

“This is not what we fought for”.

“So, I strongly urge politicians and those in the corridors of power to stop this politicking and priorities the wishes of the people.

“As we enter 2016, Zimbabweans should brace for more tough times ahead, but the challenge remains to us to keep this Government to account or we remain quiet tichingokuvarira mukati.”

Mapfumo is a popular musician who made his name during the liberation war and supported Zimbabwe’s independence through his songs until very much later when he rebeled and started attacking Mugabe’s rule.

He was to move to the US during the violent land grab exercise of the early 2000s.