Leaders urged to be national

affecting the region, as debate on the perceived marginalisation of Matebeleland rages on.
In an interview on Tuesday, Cde Malinga who is also Zanu (PF) politburo member said the Matebeleland political leadership is not decisive when it comes to advancing the region’s cause.
“There is leadership vacuum in the region and some leaders are not moving with people,” said Cde Malinga.
“It is not good to insult the people, leaders should lead the people like the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo and King Mzilikazi”.
He said leaders from the region lacked common vision and agenda on how they could carry out developmental projects.
“The main problem is that we do not have a common agenda as leaders of Matebeleland and that explains why we fight each other in the media,” said Cde Malinga.
He said despite having different political affiliations, political leaders needed to meet and discuss issues affecting the region.
“Instead, we should understand our problems as a group and discuss them and how we intend to solve them”.
Cde Malinga said the Gukurahundi issue could not continue to be ignored or denied space in public debates.
“There is no need for a deliberate affirmative action to heal the people’s emotions in order to bring meaningful development,” he said.
“Secessionist sentiments, the closure and relocation of industries from Bulawayo to Harare, are part of this marginalisation circle. People feel this pain and the truth has to be told.
“Such issue of national importance should be discussed openly and the leadership must learn to accept criticism. Criticism adds value to our leaders and it does not mean that we hate them.”
There has been heated debate in the past weeks with regards to the region’s leadership expressing different views with regards to the alleged marginalisation of the region.
Among them has been Governor and Resident Minister of Bulawayo Ambassador Cain Mathema, who accused people in the region of being cry babies.
Vice-President John Landa Nkomo also voiced his views on the issue and said the term “marginalisation” should be consigned to the historical context when referring to development issues in the region.
Two weeks ago, the leader of the MDC, Professor Welshmen Ncube, called on the Government to act decisively to stop the marginalisation of Matebeleland before people from the region lose patience.
Veteran nationalist and former cabinet Minister, Enos Nkala, also joined the debate and said the proposal by some elements fronted by Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF) to secede Matebeleland from the rest of the country was complex and could not be done without creating conflict.
Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Cephas Msipa also added his voice and said the people of Matebeleland should not mourn about their situation but instead take part in developing their area.