Why blame Chamisa for all that is wrong in Zimbabwe?

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

THE past few weeks have shown that in Zimbabwe we have the unfortunate culture of holding the weak to account, instead of confronting the powerful.

It starts with the arrest and incarceration of Job Sikhala. Many have sought to blame the victims instead of holding the State to account. The opposition CCC and its leader Nelson Chamisa have been blamed for inaction over the matter. Had he acted and blood spilt, he would have been attacked for inciting violence.

It is easy for those with the voice in Zimbabwe to blame the victim and not the perpetrators. All manner of conspiracies have been concocted to justify the attacks on Chamisa as if he is the player, linesman and referee. We know where the problem lies, but our default position is to attack the weak and the victims instead of those in power, who hold the guns and command the tanks. The argument has been: “We have to make sure that we are not replacing one dictatorship with another.”

Investigations by Al Jazeera, unearthed what is perhaps the biggest looting scandal in decades, but the silence, save for sporadic voices on social media, is astounding. It is shocking that a known criminal jailed for gold smuggling, still holds a gold trading licence and is caught on camera talking about how he launders money. But we sit in the comfort of our homes and ask: “What will Chamisa do or say?”

Just contrast this with the fallout witnessed after legislators got USD$40 000 loans in parliament, how many of us said they would stop supporting the opposition? Don’t get me wrong, it’s all fair and square to hold the opposition to account, but it’s hypocritical not to demand the same from the government.

During a rally in Zvishavane in 2017, then First Lady Grace Mugabe said women were to blame for being raped because they walked half naked; her speech was broadcast live on national TV. I called many women organisations to get their reactions and they all declined to comment saying they were afraid.

A few years later Chamisa snatched the mic from his wife at Rufaro Stadium and all hell broke loose. Suddenly the same organisations who refused to speak when Grace lashed out found their collective voice. In Zimbabwe we have the peculiar habit of blaming the failures of those in power on the opposition; we give those out of office so much credit and respect yet we don’t give them power.

Chamisa is blamed for everything from the country’s economic collapse to underperforming councils to Sikhala’s plight to police brutality and gold smuggling.

For all the woes the country is going through, the buck stops with the government which we have given the mandate to superintend over the state’s affairs and to whom we pay taxes.

Those who are outside the realms of power, such as Chamisa, while important should not be our primary concern.

In Conversation With Bruce Grobbelaar

Bruce Grobbelaar is a legend whose authenticity and patriotism shown through this conversation. The former Highlanders and Liverpool goalkeeper takes us through his journey as a young soccer player in Rhodesia who eventually became one of Liverpool’s best goalkeepers. He was vulnerable enough to share that he is still dealing with post traumatic stress disorder from his participation in Rhodesian National Army. All the way from Liverpool City he is still passionate about football in Zimbabwe and is raising his hand to lead the rehabilitation and healing of football and ZIFA. Watch his episode here..

Audience Responses

From the Bruce Grobbelaar episode, our community had this to say:

tafi mutekwe:

Great interview Trevor. Bruce has that Afrikaaner sense of humor and sense of pride that despite all the years in Europe he never lost it nor his accent.

Oswell Makuvaza Chitsa:

Great goal keeper he was and he has the heart for his country, he has been saying this over and over about getting his last run with the warriors.ZIFA never wants someone non corrupt. Sad reality

Time Mthokozisi Gumbo:

When you have struggles in life, you should revisit those struggles to get rid of the demons – incredibly pregnant statement! I was only 4 when the DreamTeam peaked around 1992, but I’ve got fond memories from reading about that era over the years. I also remember listening to Radio 1 in the 90s when Evans Mambara and Charles CNN Mabika used to do the commentary over football matches – what a time it was! Having done my O’levels at Mzilikazi High, I’ve re-created my own picture of what a fortress Barbourfields was during those Bruce and Peter Nsukuzonke Ndlovu days. Sad how everything about football has become in Zim now — my heart bleeds gallons! Cry my beloved Zim football. Only God knows!!!

Coming Next: In Conversation with H.E Ian Khama

Don’t miss the next episode with Former President of Botswana H.E Ian Khama In Conversation with Trevor.

Podcasts

• Saviour Kasukuwere; Zimbabwean politician.
• Nyasha Zhou; Chartered Accountant.
• Sim Tshabalala; Standard Bank Group CEO.