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From: James Chikonamombe
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 9:10 PM
Subject: [Mwananchi] ZIM: POLITICS OF ETHNIC BALANCING NO LONGER
RELEVANT Crisford Chogugudza THE period following the attainment of independence in Africa gave birth to politics of ethnic balancing on a grand scale following protracted wars of liberation, the rationale being among other things to create political stability and guarantee civil obedience. In Southern Africa, ethnic balancing was part and parcel of the organisation and stabilisation of liberation parties. In particular, the people of Zimbabwe were primarily bound together by the idea of a common enemy, in the name of the brutal white colonialists at the time. There was no Ndebele or Shona during the war, they were all freedom fighters. To begin with, in Zimbabwe the concept of ethnic accommodation or balancing became popular after the split of the original ZAPU which was a very strong multi-ethnic party whose membership was characterised by a diversity of languages and cultures, Ndebele and Shona being the dominant factors. Dr Joshua Nkomo became the first leader of the original ZAPU on merit and the issue of tribe was secondary. His style of leadership transcended the tribal and cultural divide and was admirable. His lieutenants were equally competent and worthy of the positions they held. These include Dr Samuel Parirenyatwa, Nikita Mangena, Lookout Masuku, Dumiso Dabengwa, Josiah Tongogara, Leopold Takawira, Ndabaningi Sithole, Herbert Chitepo and Robert Mugabe among others. The issue of Ndebele and Shona which is being opportunistically adulterated by vana mafikizolo (late comers) has negatively affected the political landscape of Zimbabwe today. The point that comes out clear and strong here is that tribe was never the overarching factor in determining who leads the liberation movement otherwise Joshua Nkomo would never have had the opportunity to be at the helm. Nkomo was a Kalanga from Kezi. Whatever happened after the split of ZAPU and the formation of ZANU everybody knows that. It was after the civil war and the unity accord that ensued when the issue of ethnic balancing became a salient feature of politics and politicking in Zimbabwe. This follows a period of general mistrust between the two liberation parties and the notion by ZANU that as the governing party they deserved to occupy all the influential posts. The Ndebeles were relegated to second rate politicians and in some cases it was ironic to see an educated and inspiring Ndebele politician deputising some uneducated and incompetent Shona. It is against the above background that l argue against ethnic balancing because it has never been an egalitarian or fair process. Ndebeles constitute about 20 percent of Zimbabwes population and surely this is a significant demographic representation to provide a President in Zimbabwe in the near future given the chance. There is a very subjective mentality in Zimbabwe that Ndebeles should never be allowed to rule Zimbabwe in the role of president because of their minority status. It is true that some elements within the Shona ethnic group have popularised this negative perception. In other countries, progressive l suppose, in as much as the majoritarian view is understandable in terms of the election of leaders, it does not always follow that top leaders should come from the majority tribe. For instance in South Africa, Presidents Mandela and Mbeki are both Xhosa speaking but the largest tribe is Zulu where the vice president comes from, Chiluba of Zambia came from a minority tribe, so did Kaunda. Chissano of Mozambique came from a minority tribe, Presidents Museveni and Kagame of Uganda and Rwanda come from minority tribes. Former Kenyan President Mois Kalenjini tribe is a minority in Kenya. It is clear that the issue of ethnic majority is not a major determinant as to who should be president. Ethnic considerations can be ignored for the sake of quality and substance in leadership. It should not be given that if one is Shona one is guaranteed of leadership ahead of a capable Ndebele who may be better qualified. If one wants to make wild parallels, even in the UK the heir to Blair's throne Dr Gordon Brown is a Scot and so is Sir Menzies Campbell, the leader of the Liberal Democrats. It should be noted that politics of ethnicity have deprived Zimbabwe of some of the best brains simply because their ethnic affiliation is 'not politically correct'. Who knows, may be if we had some of these brainy Ndebeles in influential posts our problems could have been eased. Gibson Sibanda suffered the fate of being a leader from the minority when he lost his influence to Morgan Tsvangirai, as did Welshman Ncube and many other capable cadres from the Ndebele tribal divide. Under the current situation, it would need attitudinal political changes of seismic or cataclysmic proportions for Zimbabwe to have the first defence forces chief, chief justice, police commissioner, registrar general, UZ vice chancellor or foreign minister and president who is Ndebele, not because they are not there but they will not be allowed to get there. It is unfortunate that those who dare publicly challenge the status quo are branded tribalists, but in a healthy society issues such as deprivation of leadership opportunities on the basis of ethnic background should be openly deliberated. The nationurgently needs a healing process before genuine discourse on the above matter progresses. Time has come to accept that we are all equal as Zimbabweans and that no one tribe is anointed to rule. The recent elections in the anti-senate MDC prove my point of ethnic deprivation of top posts, the highest post that a Ndebele person was allowed to have is that of vice president which is ascribed not based on meritocracy. This scenario inevitably compromises quality, people should just be given a free rein to contest posts they feel they are qualified for and let the best person get the post. In ZANU PF it is the same scenario as in the opposition aspiring Ndebele politicians can only be guaranteed the post of vice president and anything better than that is taboo. This essay is not supposed to ignite ethnic tensions as has been advocated by those people of the likes of overzealous clergymen and traditional politicians from the establishment. This is an eye opener to all Zimbabweans who see things from a rational spectacle. Food for thought http://www.fingaz.co.zw/story.aspx?stid=893 |
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