‘Mafikizolo’ a derogatory term

Shame Isaki
WE come to that time of the year again where as a nation we take time to remember and celebrate our sons and daughters, living and dead, who volunteered and sacrificed their lives for the liberation of this special country.
It was truly a sacrifice because some had to drop out of school, left families, some left ‘good’ jobs and some left properties and investments to go and fight to undo an unjust system. Negotiations had failed, diplomacy had failed, mediation had failed and the only option available was removal by force and this option eventually worked, but not without some losses.

There are some who left to join the liberation struggle, but perished before they even arrived; there are some who arrived, but perished before they went to the war-front; there are some who engaged in combat and perished on the battlefield, some succumbed to harsh weather, some were bitten by snakes and some devoured by wild animals, while others died of starvation.

We cannot forget those who perished at Nyadzonia and Chimoio. They all had one thing in common, a desire to free our country, a desire to reclaim that which had been deceitfully and forcefully wrestled from us by the settler regimes. The liberation struggle was not motivated by individual status, but by an all- binding objective which made those who participated equals despite age variances, educational differences, backgrounds and tribal origins.

All these factors became irrelevant and they still should be even in our free Zimbabwe. One important thing that Zimbabweans need to remember is that the liberation struggle was not executed in one day, and all those who took part did not join the struggle at the same time There are those who pioneered the struggle like the famed Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi, and others followed.

Some joined the liberation struggle as late as 1979 just before independence, but that does not make their contribution any lesser. Those who pioneered and those who came later are equally important to the cause. I have chosen to deliberately bring up this point because of something of great concern that is taking place in our politics and I am afraid that if this is not addressed sooner rather than later, it may grow into a very dangerous mindset. I have realised that most political parties in Zimbabwe, sadly churches included, are all guilty of this and it is the use of the word ‘ Mafikizolo’.

Ironically, these institutions, political and religious, are membership-driven and they owe their survival to the number of members they have within their ranks and more often than not they go all out to invite new members so that they can boost their numbers and sell their ideologies or religious ideas.

One thing we need to remember is that however senior you are in a party, church or company or however long you have served, the truth of the matter is that you were also new to that organisation at some point and someone had to receive you and make you comfortable while adapting to the new environment.

Raw as one was even in the liberation struggle, those who went before them received them and took them through the paces until today they are now a celebrated hero. Being new to an organisation does not mean that someone is incapable or cannot think and it is unfair for organisations to heap blame for their misfortunes, on newcomers or ‘mafikizolos’.

There is also another disturbing development in Zimbabwe that while some of us are looking-forward, others are craving for Rhodesia and some are craving for the bush or war. These two groups of people are equally dangerous and they both have to be contained.

Back to my issue, if the truth be told, some organisations today are what they are as a result of the input of the ‘mafikizolos’, and some organisations escaped defeat, collapse, or extinction because of the strategies of the so-called ‘mafikizolos’.

Those who intend to join new organisations should do so without fear, don’t be intimidated. If you are fully persuaded that you are supposed to be part of that political party, church or any group, then don’t allow anyone to push you out; fight for your stay or they themselves must leave.

The freedom that we enjoy today was as a result of sons and daughters who loved each other; they cared for each other, they had one identity — Zimbabwean — and if only we could embrace the same spirit, then Zimbabwe will be a better place. Ndarangarira gamba!

Shame Isaki is a political analyst, business management contact and preacher. He can be contacted on 020-68818, 0773 018 662. Email : [email protected].