dyton mupawaenda
Kudzai Gumbo
“IT’S probably unfair to expect the world at large, or even most people, to see us for all we are. It is essential, however, that we see ourselves for all we are.” When American Author and Speaker Victoria Moran penned this famous saying, it is obvious she had never heard, never been to Gokwe let alone hear about it and clearly, was not referring to this district in Zimbabwe. Yet the statement appears to mean Gokwe and everything about this district in Zimbabwe called Gokwe or as other Shona accents say ‘Gogwe’.
As unfair as it is, the narrative of Gokwe people has been very negative. Fellow Zimbabweans have peddled a negative stereotype of the people of Gokwe being backward. Some few years ago social media would go crazy with sayings such as ‘Gokwe yazviita zvekare…’ purporting that the people from that district are very backward.
The Zimbabwean arts industry has also added curiosity as to what Gokwe is like with Paul Matavire’s famous lyrics in one of his popular song that went like:
‘Nhai mwanangu Paurosi!
Wodyiroko Gogwe?
Ndati Wodyiroko?
Edwin Hama (may his soul rest in peace) famed for his 1990s hit songs Asila mali, Today’s paper and ‘Talk of Gokwe’ hailed from Gokwe. Probably the most popular person to hail from Gokwe apart from politicians is former Caps United and Warriors goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro who was also nicknamed Gokwe.
Despite these, the world has heard a different narrative about witchcraft.
What with areas such as ‘Gandavaroyi’ in Gokwe, the negative stereotype has travelled faster than the truth just like Winston Churchill once remarked that “A lie gets halfway around the world before truth puts on its pants on .’’
The negative stereo type is that witches and wizards from various parts of Zimbabwe were banished to Gokwe as punishment. It was believed the people would not survive the tsetse flies and if they would maybe survive, then wild animals would feast on them to totally annihilate them.
But is that story accurate? Very few have researched how colonial laws such as the Land Apportionment Act, the Land Husbandry Act and the infamous Land Tenure Act of 1969 saw people being stripped of their land and some were resettled in Gokwe while others moved there voluntarily in search of virgin land after the white settlers grabbed productive land.
Those who are in Gokwe today also argue they relocated there in search of pastures for their livestock. The natives of Gokwe are believed to be the Vashangwe people while the Shona and Ndebele people came from all over Zimbabwe especially the Midlands and Masvingo Provinces.
Those who want to understand and establish the truth about people who live in Gokwe have been given a golden opportunity to conduct an ‘inspection in loco’ (as law experts say) at Nembudziya Stadium where thousands will be attending this year’s Independence celebrations.
In the spirit of leaving no one and no place behind, the Head of State and Government His Excellency President Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa will have a conversation with the people of Gokwe at the Nembudziya Stadium celebrating Zimbabwe’s 45th Independence. The stadium which is still under construction is going to be one of the attractions of Gokwe Nembudziya as it will be an addition to the already existing stadia not only in Midlands Province but in the country.
Nembudziya is located in Gokwe North, an administrative district of Gokwe region in the Midlands Province. It is in the ecological region four with arid and semi – arid conditions due to low average rainfall patterns. Gokwe is known as an agricultural hub producing cotton, maize and groundnuts among other crops contributing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) The white gold, cotton, used to be the major cash crop in Gokwe which supported many livelihoods.
Apart from agriculture, Gokwe has a rich wildlife and there are several game reserves and areas where one can experience wildlife nature and view animals in their natural habitat. It is also endowed with mineral resources, huge coal deposits with potential to support both domestic energy needs and the export markets.
The coal can be used for electricity generation and steel production offering a shorter route to Manhize.
The hosting of this important occasion will bring other developments such as completion of the long waited Kadoma – Sanyati road, one of the best routes linking Gokwe and Kadoma. This is the same route which is used by farmers to transport their produce to different markets.
Preparation for this event automatically lead to infrastructure development especially public facilities and services while enhancing government’s engagement with local communities for future endeavours.
As the clock ticks towards 18 April, excitement is mounting with ZBC’s popular radio stations National FM, Radio Zimbabwe and Central Radio of Gweru going on a mission as fore runners to host an anticipated road show at Nembudziya preparing the way for ‘Vakuru’ in an event dubbed Gokwe Marangarirwa.
But the people of Gokwe could be wondering how they have been unfairly taunted in the past. Yet as Robert Kraft once said, ‘Sometimes, life is unfair, and you have to suck it up and move on and not use it as an excuse’.
One thing is certain though, Gokwe- Nembudziya will never be the same after the inaugural hosting of the Independence Day in the Midlands Province.
Kudzai Gumbo is a director in the Department of Presidential Communications.
Online Reporter