Frederick Douglass once said, “Where justice is denied; where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”
Prior to 1980, this is the situation that the black Zimbabweans found themselves in. The white minority ruled the roost and empowered the colonial administration to make treaties, promulgate laws which were a nightmare for the ordinary Zimbabweans. It marked the beginning of prolonged British influence and supremacy in the country.
This was a time when democracy died a natural death as intolerance and inhumane degradation of black Zimbabweans deepened. It was a phase when Black Zimbabweans were undermined; screamed from the subjugation; making it impossible for them to have access and control over their resources specifically land and were deprived and denied of any rights. Yet; the world particularly the so called ‘icons of democracy’ were silent when the black Zimbabweans; the true sons and daughters of the soil were brutally massacred by the Smith regime. Suffice to say though; can such people be allowed to raise the red flag on human rights and democracy when they failed to do so at a time when Black Zimbabweans were oppressed and clamouring for justice?
In the face of this evidence; definitely freedom was never voluntarily going to be given to them by their oppressor thus Zimbabweans rose in resistance demanding their freedom by waging a protracted war against imperialism.
This was not just a war but one which was going to give the downtrodden black man a voice to assert his desires without any deterrence and reap the fruits of his motherland.
Fast Forward to the 18th of April 1980; a new era dawned on Zimbabwe. It was the heralding of an epoch of vast advancement as Zimbabwe got freedom from oppression. This saw the Union Jack being lowered for the last time and the Zimbabwean flag raised to represent a new era in the city of Salisbury which became Harare. The fall of one flag and the rise of another symbolised the sunset of Rhodesia and the dawn of Zimbabwe. Ever since that day, Zimbabweans all over the world have faithfully celebrated the 18th of April as Independence Day from colonial rule. At the initial celebrations, the then Prime Minister Robert Gabriel Mugabe delivered a speech where he urged the people “as Zimbabweans, to trample upon racism, tribalism and regionalism and work hard to reconstruct and rehabilitate our society as we reinvigorate our economic machinery”. His speech inspired Zimbabweans to be hopeful and to be proud of their newly gained freedom.
Nevertheless, colonization of a land, of a people, brings with it many losses that are difficult, perhaps impossible, to rediscover when the nation finds freedom again. Colonization leaves many cultural legacies, changes in the indigenous lifestyle that perpetuate after a nation’s liberation. In post-colonial Africa, the greatest, most overt legacy left by white settlers is religion. While countries have gained freedom from their oppressors, Christianity often remains as a central principle of African faith with any traditional spirituality existing peripherally.
In Zimbabwe; it is Christianity and the freedom of worship that saw the rise of great and influential prophets such as Prophet Emanuel Makandiwa; Prophet Walter Magaya, Prophet Passion Java, Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi; all recognized servants of God whose great works have enabled them to polish themselves; earning them respect and they now command a huge following.
Prophets are servants of God and mouthpieces with the Creator and as such they deserve to be respected. As illustrated by the Shona proverb, ‘Kana chipostora chotaurwa nevakuru vekare teerera’, meaning when a Prophet speaks one has to heed to the call or warning despite that Prophet’s age or background lest those who don’t heed the warnings do not live to admit they were stupid to do so.
The unfolding drama that has rocked social media recently whereby Prophet Makandiwa came under a barrage of criticism mainly from the opposition CCC members and opposition-linked NGOs, who were displeased by his comments leaves a lot to be desired. Attacking a man of God is uncalled for and it is actually a conflict with the Higher power for God instructed man not to touch his anointed ones. [1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15]
President Mnangagwa attended Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa’s UFIC’s Easter Conference in Chitungwiza where the Prophet commended on the country’s creditable development trajectory under President Mnangagwa’s administration. This did not augur well with the opposition which accused the Man of the cloth of bias and bootlicking.
Given such utterances; one is left wondering if it is bias or bootlicking when the truth has been said. Isn’t it the same Holy Bible which teaches us to tell the truth? Above all; isn’t it the duty of prophets to pray for the nation; leaders and speak wisdom that guides the nation accordingly…? Prophet Makandiwa said the truth and instead of criticising him; it will be good to listen when the wise speak.
Some of the comments that have ruffled feathers in opposition ranks include where the hugely respected cleric declared his love for President’s leadership and his ability to concentrate on his work while people said negative things. He also disclosed that he saw President Mnangagwa being sworn in as Zimbabwe’s President next year.
From this, it is crystal clear that whilst the CCC and their western allies have launched immense attacks on the country’s image in an attempt to denigrate its integrity; through peddling lies and branding Zimbabwe as a haven for human rights chaos and lagging in rule of law; the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa is making strides in laying a sound infrastructure base for sustainable economic development, growth as well as enhance its role towards regional connectivity and integration.
Another cleric; Joshua Maponga shared same sentiments saying that Zimbabweans will not be misled by the sand boys but they will make correct decisions to build on a strong foundation rather than planting the future in the sand
In other words; Maponga is simply endorsing the foundation which was laid in order to preserve, protect and safeguard the gains of the liberations struggle, which came through a protracted armed struggle and should not allow Zimbabweans to be divided.
Prophets Magaya and Java weighed in endorsing the President and questioned those disagreeing with Makandiwa and others to introspect on their views and conclusions.
If you are not careful; the media will have you hating the people who are kindling the light in darkness. Opposition leaders should learn to appreciate the good works that President Mnangagwa is doing unless their criticism has suddenly turned into an occupation
