Musanhu made this statement live on national radio at the beginning of the season, after Highlanders had won the first of their four championships on the trot. Because of the grave situation on the ground regarding tribalism, this statement undid all his good work on the pitch, as he went on to have probably his best season with the Harare Giants.
Picture this. Musanhu was a Dynamos player when he said this and was speaking about Highlanders – two sides that are, believe it or not, symbols of the tribal divide in Zimbabwean soccer. When Highlanders win the championship, Ndebeles, including those who claim to be moderate, get all the bragging rights and even refer to the club’s founding days, spearheaded by King Lobengula’s grandsons. The Shona-speaking part of the country does the same when, as has just happened, Dynamos rule supreme in the league.
Whenever these two sides are concerned, tribalism and soccer do mix, but should they? Make no mistake, Highlanders and Dynamos are the country’s best clubs, but their rivalry is made more bitter by the tribal connotations than by their performance on the pitch.
A tour of Barbourfields’ notorious Soweto stand or Rufaro’s Vietnam stand, when either of the sides is playing at home, bears ample testimony to the bitter tribal divisions between them.
Highlanders supporters’ songs say it all: “Boph’ijambo ukhab’ishona (tighten your boot and kick a Shona), Lingababulali (You are killers, a traditional Ndebele song twisted to reflect the Gukurahundi killings) and Sowake walibona iShona lihlal’eSoweto? (Have you ever seen a Shona sit on the Soweto stand?) A visit to two unofficial Facebook pages – Dembare.com and Highlanders FC Bosso supporters, opened by supporters in honour of these two great sides, also depicts the deep tribal rot centred on the two clubs.
While the world is busy trying to kick racism out of soccer, in Zimbabwe, where white and mixed race players are now nearing extinction, the biggest infirmity is clearly tribalism, which has spilled from the two clubs’ supporters stands into the national team, the PSL and ZIFA’s administration.
“This dates back a long time and it is so sad that it is still continuing,” said former Zimbabwe Saints and national team goalkeeper, Muzondiwa Mugadza. “Not long ago, when we (Zimbabwe) lost to Angola, messages were flying left, right and centre that Ndebeles have lost thegame. Now, this Dynamos/Bosso thing has re-ignited the flame once again. It’s disappointing that our generation is locked in this when we should be moving the country forward and trying to leave a legacy for our little ones.”
Apparently, Muzondiwa experienced this even during his days with the national teams.
“One time, we were camped at UZ and students ran riot for something that was lame to me. Bulawayo boys were teasing their Harare counterparts about Bulawayo boys making the nucleus of the starting line-up during the Clemence Westerhof era. To me, whoever puts on that Zimbabwean jersey represents the whole nation and not a region. Maybe it is easier for me to have this different perspective because my father is of Shona origin while my mother is Ndebele, but it disappoints me to be reading messages of tribal hate when we are one people. Those days are gone.”
Former coach and now respected analyst, Keutsepilemang Ndebele, concurred. “These misguided forces are killing our beautiful game through tribalism. We need a united front that will see fans from various clubs supporting their desired teams sitting together. ZIFA need to address this issue by running promotions that unite fans until the situation improves.”
While clubs have themselves looked beyond tribes by accommodating talented players from every region, with the bulk of Highlanders’ star players coming from Harare, the same cannot be said of their supporters, who have refused to let go of each other’s throats.
“We do not care where one comes from and this tribal rubbish is with the supporters alone, not the players. That is why you see Highlanders and Dynamos players laughing with one another before, during and after games. We know that the rivalry should not extend outside the game period,” said a Highlanders player. It’s time the authorities took a stand on the tribalism issue.
Post published in: Football