Andrew
Retired Major Action Mandingo
HERE we go again.
Will someone please tell the British, especially Lord Goldsmith and Lord Oates, that it is not mere politicking when we say “Zimbabwe will never be a colony again”.
We mean it.
And we have been saying it since the British started poking their noses into our politics.
Instead of acting as if Zimbabwe is still their colony, Lord Goldsmith and Lord Oates will do themselves and their troubled country a big favour by focusing on the leadership turmoil in their country. They are changing prime ministers the way mothers change diapers on their children, and, surely, these lords should be embarrassed by the turmoil that has reduced Britain to a laughing stock of the world.
We can even go biblical.
Matthew 7 vs 5 is very clear and bold: “Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”
Before Lord Goldsmith and Lord Oates start pretending to care about Zimbabwe, they should first sort out the mess in their politics.
Recently, these two lords engaged in a debate that made it sound as if we are still their colony.
Responding to a question in the House of Lords posed by Liberal Democrat Lord Oates, the British Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), Lord Goldsmith, said they were worried about developments in Zimbabwe, adding that they were closely monitoring the situation.
Worried about Zimbabwe and monitoring the situation in the country as who?
Is this colonial hangover or what?
Why do these lords think they can dictate politics in Zimbabwe? What gives them the audacity to talk about monitoring developments in Zimbabwe?
This nonsense has to stop.
Since he took office, President Mnangagwa has spoken passionately about engagement and re-engagement. He has even gone to the extent of saying: “Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none.” In his address during the 42nd Heroes Day commemorations, President Mnangagwa made it clear that Zimbabwe has weathered the storm and will never succumb to Western machinations. His words were evocative: “We, therefore, stand emboldened by the spirit of our heroes to bravely face, head-on, those who seek to do harm to our people and beloved motherland, Zimbabwe.
“Our history is one of deep-seated patriotism, perseverance and ultimately victory. We never give up; we never surrender . . . Let us, therefore, individually and collectively, protect it from all forms of abuse and desecration; more so, by those who never came to our help during the brutal oppressive years under white settler colonial regime. Albeit, as a peace-loving nation, Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none.” Lord Oates and Lord Goldsmith should take President Mnangagwa’s message seriously. We know that, after working as a spy for the British government in Zimbabwe in the 1980s, Lord Oates still finds Zimbabwe irresistible.
He knows Zimbabwe’s potential and is scared that Zimbabwe is set for an unprecedented economic take-off. As they debated on Zimbabwe, Lord Goldsmith and Lord Oates spoke about the detention of opposition MPs Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole to give the impression that these two legislators are being unlawfully detained. As they say in Shona, “Kana uchida kuona muridzi chaiye wemhosva, bata kamwana katumwa, muridzi anozobuda pachena.”
Put simply, this means, if you want to see who is really behind the mischief by some small boy, just detain the boy and the real culprit behind the mischief will come out.
With Sikhala and Sithole legally languishing in prison, the sponsors of the mayhem they caused in Chitungwiza are slowly coming out.
As the puppets continue squeaking, their masters, led by Lord Oates and Lord Goldsmith, are running around like headless chickens in a bid to have them freed.
Zimbabwe is a sovereign country with laws and courts to decide on such matters.
Lord Oates and Lord Goldsmith can bark aimlessly like dogs on a dark night, but that will not change the course of justice.
Zimbabwe will not be intimidated.
This is what we mean when we say Zimbabwe will never be a colony again!
Of course, in due course, the puppets will pick up the cue from their Western masters and start making unnecessary noise about electoral reforms before elections set for next year.
This is despite the fact that this electoral reforms hullabaloo has failed to smuggle the puppets into power.
And, of course, we know lots of dirty money will start flowing into Zimbabwe as we march towards the 2023 elections.
Local journalists will be “bought”, political activists hiding under civil society organisations and several non-governmental organisations will also receive lots of dirty funds. But after almost three decades under illegal Western sanctions, the puppets and their masters should know that Zimbabwe is now a lot wiser.
A mean machine is being oiled. The puppets and their masters are in for a rude awakening.
Without sounding like an alarmist, let me just say “bring it on! It’s game on!”
Lord Goldsmith and Lord Oates concluded their debate by saying they would take the opportunity to discuss the Zimbabwean issue with South African leader President Ramaphosa during his visit to the UK.
We are not really sure why these British lords are overestimating themselves. They think they can sway President Ramaphosa to interfere in Zimbabwe’s affairs. Rank madness!
Just like the Southern African Development Community (SDAC) and just like the African Union, President Ramaphosa has made his position on Zimbabwe very clear.
The SA leader has openly said illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe have failed to work as they are hurting ordinary Zimbabweans.
There is nothing that Lord Goldsmith and Lord Oates will say to change his mind. Zimbabwe, SADC, Africa and other progressive countries in the world have taken a stance against the illegal sanctions.
The bold and clear message is that Zimbabwe should be left to decide its destiny.
It is unfortunate that Lord Goldsmith and Lord Oates are finding it hard to shake off their colonial hangover.
Zimbabwe will never be a colony again!
Online Reporter