Age Limit: Seemingly the Parliament is ready for the Second and Third reading of the bill tomorrow!

The Plenary Sessions paper for Monday the 18th December 2017 is out. The Constitutional Amendment No. 2. or the Private Bill of Raphael Magyezi, the Age Lifting bill of Presidential Candidates is up. But not only up for a Second Reading, which is natural after the first reading and been scrutinized by the Legal and Constitutional Committee in Parliament during the recent weeks. Clearly, the National Resistance Movement have short time.

Since the Plenary Session on Monday is all in the name of the bill, secondly, it is not just the second reading that is up. If it was so, it would have been an ordinary bill. However, this is the life-line of the political life of Museveni. Therefore, it has to be speeded up. They are racing to the underground and hoping to find a gold mine. So they can live happily ever after.

Because the reading is filled with “Bills Committee Stage”, then the “Motion for the House to Resume” , after that the “Report from the Committee of the Whole House” and the “Motion for Adaption of the Report from the Committee of the Whole House”. This means by this stage, the Parliament is expected to follow the guidelines of the Committee and their majority report. Secondly, so they can move forward vote on the bill and do the third reading.

Which is apparently happening right after they have gone through the reports in quick minutes and made sure the legality is in check. The Members of Parliament and the NRM has then ensured the protocol and provisions. Even if rushed and in sensational speed. They are trying to take a Formula One instead of dipping through the jams of Kampala.

They are on the same day, after all those minutes already facilitated in haste. Its like the wig of Parliamentary Speaker Rebecca Kadaga is falling off. Like Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah has fire up his ass. That they are pushing it further. They are actually as they just voted for the acceptance of the second reading. Just as they finished discussing the report and everything else. The Parliament is actually having the third reading. Its like they should just get 2/3 of majority vote and get it all over with.

So Museveni can sign himself into life presidency, instead of keeping this charade up for another day. They are extending their legality and their methods in the Parliament. I am sure the Police and Special Forces Command will guard the city squares and the streets around Parliament. There will be a siege of the Parliament. Since this is the life work of Museveni and his will. His will is law in the end. Nothing else matter. To say so is a lie. The NRM and their syncopates has too lie. They cannot help themselves, they want to eat and needs mercy from their master.

Tomorrow will be a hectic day, a day of arrests and detained opposition. There will be violence and trouble. Still, the movement of the law will happen. Even if it is foolish and the world knows it. They are pushing it and doing it on the knives edge. Because Museveni needs it. So his blood still pumps in his veins. As long as it does, he anticipate to be the king and stay the king. No stone left unturned to stay there.

Tomorrow will not be different. It is just a mere signal and flash from darkness. That the steps to life presidency is there. If Mwenda, Mirundi or Ofwono says otherwise, you know it is false. They lie, just like their boss. Peace.

Age Limit: A Brief look into the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Report on the Age Limit!

Today, was the day that the 10th Parliament, the Committee of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs majority report was leaked. As Speaker Rebecca Kadaga yesterday gave the public knowledge that the Constitutional Amendment will be up for second reading after the Committee is done on the 18th December 2017. The bill of Igara West Raphael Magyezi private bill got passed through the first voting and ended under scrutiny by the Committee. Even though this report make it just look benign and dumb. The questions for the reason for this isn’t because of discrimination or any other sort. That is just political ploy by the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Who has a record of changing laws when he needs them too. If it is the constitution or another bill. It will be amended and changed when he needs it. The same reason for why the Article 102 (b) suddenly has to lifted and changed with an artificial provision.

The Committee is trying their best to legitimize it, but it doesn’t take away the purpose and their reasons for their recommendations. I am not surprised, this was expected by the Committee, it is fitting the paradigm of National Resistance Movement (NRM) under the rule of Museveni. They are trying to find special ways of fitting his narrative to his life. Without implicating himself to much. So it seems like it fits something else, while in the end its him who benefits. If it would go wrong, someone else has to fall on their sword. If someone get more ambition than Museveni, they are sacked or called rebels within the NRM. Therefore, expect the quotes I have taken to be in this regard. I have not taken from the ones questioning the lifting, because we all know the reason why to keep it. The Republic was made to serve and be there for Museveni, but he has taken it hostage. The NRM are just accepting it, because they are eating of his plate, the little breadcrumbs he is serving now and then. Therefore, this report is reflecting this. Take a look!

Article 102 (b) threatens democracy since Article 1 of the Constitution grants people of Uganda the right to determine who leads them and how they are ruled. Therefore restricting their choice on account of age would deny them the opportunity to fully exercise their freedom to decide who leads them” (…) “that Article 102 (b) is discriminatory against the youth and aged and is contrary to article 2l which guarantees equality of all people before the law” (…) “The youth and aged also want to participate in decision making process in the country. Having a lower and upper age limit would limit the participation of the youth and the aged in the country’s leadership” (…) “That age doesn’t translate into capacity since the youth and aged persons were able to serve efficiently in the office of President” (…) “that since life expectancy has increased from the time this Article was proposed and considering that more Ugandans are living longer, the population of the youth and aged persons, which are increasing every year, are productive and must be utilised” (…) “There is no empirical evidence to prove the assertion that persons below 35 years and above 75 years are not biologically endowed for leadership” (Parliament of Uganda, P: 60, 2017).

I wonder how it suddenly became a threat in 2017, when it took 22 years before it became an issue and a problem that the whole republic had to consider. If it had been a threat, wouldn’t the Committees and the working groups in the years before 1995 edited it out or at least changed the text to make it without reason? Or was the group members so drunk on the personality cult, that they was worshiping the words of Museveni back-then?

I wonder, if the Members of Parliament, meant it with sincerity that age doesn’t translate into leadership. So an infant and boy-scout is ready to become an MP too? Is a 100 year old struggling to walk and talk, good enough with a sound mind to run a republic? Age is complex in the sense, that no individual is the same. That people age differently and become mature differently, as also people aging in various aspects and get defects with time. Their all natural causes to live and to breathe. We all get deceases and has issues during our lives, that creates fatigue. Which effects our minds and our body ability to reflect on our surroundings. That is why we wants leaders with all senses and a clear mind. To be able to govern and steer a hectic ship as a Republic is. It shouldn’t be someone with an advanced age, as they can be taken advantage off and used by spouse or by doctors. This has been in the past also not to long ago with a certain Grace and her husband Robert Mugabe. If Janet tries to pull off the same, maybe then the army might attack Museveni too and put him under house arrest. Well, that is just speculation. Still, the thought of an advanced aged President is a frightened perspective, as it will weaken the persons ability to govern with full force and vigor.

The Committee further believes that whereas Article 102 (b) is not discriminatory, it marginalizes against the aged and the youth. The Committee notes that Article 102 (b) marginalizes against the youth and the elderly by limiting their opportunities especially as far as offering their candidature for the highest office is concerned. The Committee observed that Article 32 of the Constitution obligates the state to take affirmative action in favour of the marginalized groups to which the youth and elderly belong. The Committee believes that removing the age restrictions in Article 102 (b) is one way of streamline the provision for purpose of redressing the imbalance therein against persons below the age of 35 and those above the age of 75” (Parliament of Uganda, P: 62, 2017).

It is hard to believe that this will help the ones that under 35 years, when it is amended just because of the age of Museveni. It will not change anything and any imbalance, unless suddenly the laws change so much that more people can afford to run campaigns and there is actually a democratic playing field for all candidates. Which it is not at the moment. This is a mute argument to use the youth, because they are marginalized and blocked by this law. No one said some experience isn’t helpful when running for office and actually know something about politics before you run.

RECOMMENDATION

The committee recommends that-

(1) The age prescribed in Article 102 be reduced from 35 years to 18 years and for the upper age restriction to be removed” (…) “(2) Article 102 is redrafted to specifically prescribe the qualifications for a person to stand for president. These should including him or her being-” (…) “(a) a citizen of Uganda ; (b) a registered voter; (c) a resident in Uganda at the time of submission of his or her

and / (c) having completed a minimum formal education of Advanced standard or its equivalent” (Parliament of Uganda, P: 63-64, 2017).

They are really using the Youth for all its worth, even though it is to give Museveni a life presidency. They are not putting that in print. But that is the initial results of the change of the law. That is why the text are not saying any age, neither way, but they are using the youth because it is easier to fit. Than using advanced age. Since we all know it ridiculous!

The Committee observed that whereas many reasons were advanced for limits, one of the most prominent reasons was the existence of Article 102 (b), which persons above the age of 75 from being eligible for election as president. The reasoning at the time was that Article 102 was a deterrent measure against an incumbent seeking unlimited term as president and was sufficient to deter such a person. The Committee therefore notes that removing the age restrictions in Article 102 will remove the last remaining measure against the indefinite seeking of the office of President” (Parliament of Uganda, P: 91, 2017).

So they are blaming Dr. Milton Obote his predecessor for the reason, but ironically when he is gone. The provision isn’t needed. Obote is the problem, but not Museveni who apparently is still there. Just to bring some short words of Wisdom from Professor Oloka in 2006, it said this:

Your attitude to the kisanja saga relates to a larger problem, which goes to the essence of the problem of democracy in this country. Constitutionalism is about accepting the rules of the game as written and agreed upon, whether those rules favour you, or not. If the goalposts are changed whenever the tide goes against those in power then we have simply returned to the stage when Apollo Milton Obote abrogated the 1966 Constitution, rather than face the possibility of losing his job as Prime Minister. The 2005 amendments to the 1995 Constitution were the non-violent equivalent of Obote’s 1966 abrogation. My short point is that in the final analysis, constitutionalism is based on trust, not on the document in which the Constitution is embodied, because as you and your supporters have said time and again; nothing in that document is sacred. Just as it is not the quoting of biblical verses that shows whether you are a true Christian; it is your actions. Mr. President, how can you expect to be trusted for example on the issue of an East African Federation which today you are so much in favour of, and tomorrow may have turned completely against, if you discover that the Federation constitution does not favour your political interests?” (Oloka, 2006).

He couldn’t say it much better than this. Museveni is changing the Constitution, when he needs the fix. He is drug-addicted for power, he needs the next fix. This will be his re-up. The stash will be ready and he can continue with his addiction. That is what this is about. Nothing else. So it is special that the Legal Committee is blaming the provision of the law on Obote, when it was there all along because Museveni wanted it first. Just like accepted the term limits. Until, he had spent the hours and the years on office. Therefore, he needed that fix before the age limit is breaking his bones and his heart.

If it doesn’t happen, he will do like addicts do: lie, manipulate, impulsive behavior, criminal behavior, blame shifting and sensation seeking. He is already lying, manipulating the MPs, using criminal behavior with corrupt payments of the MPs and putting blame on others. He is just missing sensation seeking. If not, he will start another radio campaign or try to get it forced through with Special Forces Command and Police Officers like through the first reading. We can just imagine what will happen next week!

But do I believe the reasoning in this report. No and No! Peace.

Reference:

Parliament of Uganda – ‘Report of the Sectoral Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2017’, December 2017

Oloka, Joe Onyange – ‘Oloka responds to the President on term limits’ (31.07.2006) link: https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1143715/oloka-responds-president-term-limits

Tendai Biti: Testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health policy – “Zimbabwe at the Crossroads: A Chance for a New Beginning” (12.12.2017)

Opinion: Final Expectations considering the lifting of the Age Limit!

Pictures from the First Reading of the Age Limit Bill in Parliament in September 2017.

I expect no grand finale, no grand stand-off and salute. I just expect are law finalized through ceasing the central business district of Kampala. All the way from Constitutional Square over to Kololo. Everything will be check-points, military police and Special Forces Command walking in and around the gates of the Parliament.

I expect the ones opposing the bill, being arrested or taken away as hostages away from the Parliament. I except the red-ribbon people in the streets being beaten and silenced. As their leaders are behind bars and awaiting trials and also verified charges. I expect the Pro-Lifting the bill to talk in reckless behavior and about the ill of discrimination and how the anti-abolishing MPs are destroying the peace of the state. Someone even applaud the military takeover and the ceasing of the Parliament for the case of the bill itself.

We can expect the people to be silenced and afraid, as the rising tensions and the military presence is more out of an action movie, than of actual legislation being passed in the National Assembly. It is like Sylvester Stallone and his renegades are ruling the courts and the people are afraid of the millions of bullets they have in the banana clips.

While the radios, TV-Stations and media in general are subdued or even silenced if they speak ill. If they try their lose license or Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) might file a report asking certain journalists and personalities of air. Since they are damaging the calm of the President, while he is awaiting his Christmas present made in the name of Raphael Magyezi. Who is a stooge and relic of a party, who are just blindly following their leader without being allowed to think on their own.

The Second Reading will not a joyful occasion, more violence and more tension. The talks in parliament between IGP Kale Kayihura and Genal David Muhoozi is to secure the ones listed as anti, will be taken care of. While Rebecca Kadaga is informed that this will happen. Since the President does not want this law put into troubles by defiance and disorder inside the chambers.

We can only expect all of this, because that is what Museveni has ordered before, we have seen it all unfold. We can only expect the same again. As the Police and Military will be used to silence both MPs and also the public. To show the power and the need to change the law to fit Museveni himself. Peace.

Gen. Mugisha Muntu Press Statement (10.12.2017)

Age Limit: NRM MPs, if your serious about lifting the Presidential Retirement Age; Why are they not also changing the compulsory retirement age in Pensions Act as well?

Pensions Act of 1946, which is still enacted and still viable law in the Republic of Uganda, set the standard for any civil servant or anyone who is an officer within the public service. Someone who works for the state and does work in different parts of the government. This law was enacted while it was still a protectorate, it is a colonial law. However, it has not been substituted or changed since then. It hasn’t been vital for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the 31 years rule of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He hasn’t mind this one. But there are one part of this law, that is key to the problems with abolishing the article 102(b), which says a President cannot be older, than 75 years old.

Why does a secretary, a minor compulsory state workers has to retire earlier in the rules of compulsory retirement as stated in the Pensions Act are clear about the age and regulation within the law that is still in-force.

Just take a look: “12. Compulsory retirement. An officer shall retire on attaining the age of sixty years” (Pensions Act, 1946). It is hard not to understand what this states. What it says and what it means. This is actually says. If the NRM had an issue with this. They could have amended this so all compulsory retirement could be prolonged, even made sure to write something, in the fashion of, “if a person has the mental capacity and is not drunkard, he can still work as a civil servant until he is eighty years. However, the state will enforce that most officers are retiring at the age of sixty years”. That with some of the words of the defense of President standing for more terms and not caring about age.

That is why I feel sorry for the state of affairs within the NRM, as the Legal Committee Members of Parliament from the party had this to say, as they will deliver report and recommendations to the Parliament in the coming days. As reported by Mugerwa: “In backing the removal of age limit caps, the 18 MPs branded Article 102 (b) as “discriminatory” and insisted that the choice should be left to the voters since under Article 1, power belongs to the people. The members also argued that there are many leaders all over the world who are above 75 and that many prosperous countries like the US don’t have age restrictions” (Mugerwa, 2017).

Well, why is there limitations on other public officer, but there will be none for the President? Why is he so godly, that he never has fatigue or lack power with age? Is it because the NRM is a cult, who all praise Museveni and lives and breathes his wisdom. They will all fall to ground and die when he is not existing. Is that what the NRM are implying? Since that is how it looks from the outside. A random public officer, a civil service officer after the law has compulsory retirement age of 60 years. While the President still has the limit currently at 75 years. That means he can still in office 15 years longer, than a random person at NSSF and KCCA, but as President he can stay put at the State House. That is discrimination. The President is just one person, the rest is the dozens upon dozens of civil servants that has lay down their work and go farming. You know?

So the NRM MPs in the legal committee has written ready made statements, which fits the paradigm of Museveni and his twisted gut. There isn’t anything shocking or significant change from what has been said over the recent months. It just bothers me, how neglectful this people are. That they are not thinking of the President as a public officer or civil servant, a part of the government and also appointing others. Why should that person be so glorified that others should be under submission, but he is above the ordinary law?

If the NRM MPs believes that the age limit is discrimination, abolish it also within the Pensions Act. Take away that provision too, make everyone live under the same regime as the President. Unless, you will be honest and say it is just made for the President, the current President and the life project of Museveni. Say it! Don’t be a wanker, say it! Speak up, tell this is gift-wrapped special limited edition law fixed and amended for Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. No one else. That is the lie and we all know it.

Because you haven’t cared about the civil servant, the public officers and their retirement age. You haven’t work on that or fixed that. That is not discriminatory, but however, since it the President. Then it became so. The Ugandan public is not that stupid and neither is the world. NRM, say your a Museveni Cult and say that your fixing this for master, because your are his noble slaves. You are working on his command and after his orders. You are not doing this to create about Uganda. That is another lie. You have million others more pushing problems to fix, but are stuck in the limbo here. Since Museveni needs this. That is why the argument is foolish and you as NRM MP knows it. Peace.

Reference:

Mugerwa, Yasiin – ‘Legal committee MPs approve Age Limit Bill’ (10.12.2017) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Legal-committee-MPs-approve-Age-Limit-Bill/688334-4221594-j4ruq0/index.html

Opinion: President Museveni shows his own twisted logic in defense of the Age Limit!

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni are today defending the lifting of the age limit. It is not inspiring or flavor of love. More of the same old passion fruit blended with pineapple and in the end called exotic. It is in the same regard when trying estimate and entail his arguments, he can make a lion into a little puppy, when needed. Seriously, if he would have listen to himself in the 1980s and how he sounds today. Mr. President would vomit and get ill. Unless, it was ruse and a lie all along.

“In a continent like Africa where we have had a leadership crisis and still faced with many challenges we need to be flexible, not merely legalistic and utilise all the potential from both the young and old. This is because it is more about our safety, survival and prosperity and not who leads us on that journey,” President Museveni said” (…) “Israel has since 1948 been rotating leaders young and old. Today Israel is a super power yet in a largely hostile environment. The great leaders that transformed China, Deng Xiaoping and Deng Yingchao, were of advanced age,” said President Museveni. “The great United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchhill was leader up to the age of 81and offered some of the best leadership to his country.” (…) “He added: “I think the problem of Africans is concentrating on trivialities yet our issues should be about the African destiny and how to guarantee our future.” (…) “Civil servants and judges are about service. They are hired to provide a service. Politics, on the other hand is about representation. Do not mix service with representation. Service is technical,” said the President. “I hire you to be a doctor because you are technical. Politics however is representation. Drunkards will meet in a bar and elect their fellow drunkard to represent them. Representation is about speaking for people, negotiating, lobbying. It is a different form of service from the technical type.” (…) “The intolerance is because the opposition are ideologically bankrupt and have nothing to offer. They are desperate because the Movement has revamped the economy and generated revenue and we are able to deliver to the population. They now think that the only way to get rid of the Movement is to do away with particular players” he noted” (PPU, 2017).

One of the leadership crisis is that the one leader stay on, especially the ones that treat themselves as liberators. They liberated themselves and their clans, their own people and their own movements, but not the republic itself. The same can be said about Museveni, he liberated his family and his close movement comrades, but not the state. He has not utilized the young, as they are mostly in poverty and unemployed. Therefore, his reasoning there is futile. It is hard to see the rising cronyism of the movement bringing prosperity for the nation, when he one on the wheel has not delivered it for three decades.

If you call taking a nation or a republic hostage and controlling it as trivialities. It is mind boggling, but fitting his current leadership and his reasoning. As he is entitled to do, so in his own twisted mind. That is why, if the representation is not on his merits, than they are drunkards. It benign for him to see anyone else, as he is so technical about his presidential handshakes and his use of the army to solve everything from doctor’s crisis to armyworms.

That it is intolerance to not knight the man the living legend and almighty savior of the Ugandan republic. Shows how blind of power he has become. He has leveled so much on the mushrooms on Mario. That he got extra lives in plenty and planning to use them in office. I don’t know if he thinks about how intolerant he is, when he thinks he is the only one who can represent the republic. That no one else has the ability to represent them and that does not concern the age, at all.

Many wants to get rid of the Movement, but also Museveni. He has stayed since 1986… I don’t see if the man can be future, when he is still living in the past. I am tired of his nonsense. I will end it here. He doesn’t deserve a honorable approach, he is logic is twisted. Peace.

Reference:

PPU – ‘Ugandans should have final say on who leads them – Museveni’ (06.12.2017) link: https://www.yowerikmuseveni.com/ugandans-should-have-final-say-who-leads-them-%E2%80%93-museveni

Since Zimbabwe is still not rid of the Zanu-PF dictatorship, let us remember some wise words from the Father of Zimbabwe – Joshua Nkomo!

The whole story and political legacy of comrade Joshua Nkomo is to big for a small quick and brief article. This here is just a brief parts of his legacy of his history and what he achieved, while becoming the Father of Zimbabwe. The man who had deserved to be the President and be one who ruled as a just ruler in the Republic after the fall of Ian Smith’s minority government. It wasn’t only now disgraced President Robert Mugabe who liberated Zimbabwe, there we’re several people behind that. It was the now War Veterans and also other political leaders. There was also different external support of both ZAPU and ZANU, ZAPU was supported with weapons from Soviet, while ZANU was supported by Chinese and still is today. ZAPU through progression made a Patriotic Front. With time also got part of the one-party system and became disfranchised by Mugabe into the ZANU-PF.

Nkomo did a lot in his political career from being a Union leader and into a fully fledged Nationalist. Standing against the imperialists, even being questioned for his negotiations and his mindset towards the colonizers. Even so, he pursuit the goal and changed methods with time. He went from being allies, went into exile several times and even feared for his life. Because he stood by the cause, the liberation and freedom. While Mugabe used the liberation for his own personal gain and to take total control, one of the casualties was Nkomo and his tribe. Therefore, the cost of his liberation are still evident today. As ZANU-PF ate up his party, but his legacy will live on. Because he was steadily working on the quest for liberation not only from the British, but from a government who took away the freedom from its citizens.

Secret telegram to Nkomo in 1982:

In September 1982, British government learnt that Nkomo’s forces were upset that he joined Mugabe and facilitated the arrest of Dumiso Dabengwa and Lookout Masuku” (…) “The full letter from Zipra forces to Joshua Nkomo who was at the time a minister in Mugabe’s government is believed to have triggered Gukurahundi: “We are declaring that we are no more commanders. Why are you supporting Mugabe the puppet and not returning Dabengwa and other commanders who are in jail? Why are you campaigning that the tourists be returned before our other demands are met? We want Dabengwa and Masuku from you now, Joshua because you are the one who caused them to be arrested. (The reason for this you know. You told us at Gwai.You are afraid of being arrested).This means you want to be a friend of puppet Mugabe, the one you were saying was a dog. This s the last warning until Masuku and other commanders are freed.To us ZIPRA forces, Zapu military wing, you are our enemy number 1.We shall prove it by action.(Do you remember saying a man keeps a club?). We will meet at the unknown capitalism, Zimbabwe. Down with puppet Mugabe. Down with Zanu PF. The war must be prepared for. We have the tourists too until our demands (B) are met” (Mawire, 2016).

Nkomo in 1983:

In retrospect, I now believe that I and ZAPU were deceived and cheated by you and your party when you talked of unity, reconciliation, peace and security. I now honestly and sincerely believe that when you invited us to take part in your government you believed that we would reject your offer and set ourselves up in strong opposition to you and thereby label us disgruntled rejected plotters” (…) “It is now obvious to me that when you demoted me from the Ministry of Home Affairs which you knew was negotiated for a purpose at the time you invited us to take part in your government; that while you knew that we felt it was necessary for us to take part in one of the security ministries (Defence or Home Affairs) so that the former ZIPRA men drafted into the ZNA and ZRP may feel confident, thereby solidify both the army and the police, you deliberately took that action. It is clear you wanted us to pull out of your government at that time so as to destabilize the army and the police, create dissidents out of the deserting ZIPRA men and then call us plotters against your government” (…) “The double tragedy of Zimbabwe today is, firstly, that the routine and administrative use of detention, torture and arbitrary repression has been adopted by an independent government, and secondly, that this government uses the very same mercenaries and torturers as the former regime used against the struggling people. In fact the situation today is in some respects is even worse, as our government has abandoned even those standards of bourgeois legality which the Smith regime generally attempted to hide their repression behind. Under that regime you could be detained but a least you were more likely to be issued with a detention order. You were therefore, less likely to simply disappear as is the case today. The mercenaries and torturers used by the former regime are known and are very few, and therefore their exclusion from our security organs could not have disrupted those organs” (…) “One of the most disgraceful and shaming aspects of our independence which is difficult to defend, is that we have taken the methods and men used to oppress, torture and kill our people and tried to use them to consolidate our ‘independence’. You cannot take weapons, methods and people designed to defend colonial fascism and try to use to them defend the people. It is just not possible. Today in Zimbabwe the same torturers that Smith used against the people are back in business ‘defending a people’s government’. They must smile to themselves when they are ordered to continue their torture of patriots by an independent government” (…) “This is not government, it is the abuse of government, an abuse which transforms the rule of law into the law of rule. As such it cannot lead to a free, united, peaceful and prosperous Zimbabwe. But to one in which oppression, division, violence and poverty will shadow all our hopes, and make a mockery of the freedom struggle in which so many heroes gave their lives” (Nkomo, 1983)

Nkomo in 1984:

‘We believe that what is happening has not been necessarily ordered by the authorities but that young men are doing things on their own. But when you appeal to the government for action and they don’t do anthing, you come to believe that some of these things are arranged,’ Nkomo said ‘We must fight against these things. You cannot have a one-party state with people torn to pieces by tribalism and hatred unless those in power are confused and continue with this gospel of hate,’ he said” (UPI, 1984).

From his own book:

In his account, Nkomo was careful to distinguish between the new ZANU-PF government and ZANU-PF as a party. While he criticised ZANU-PF as a party for trying to kill him, Nkomo (1984, p. 1) remained committed to the newly independent government: Robert Mugabe had decided to have me out of the way, and he evidently did not care what method was used. But I hold the legitimate government of Zimbabwe innocent of this atrocity. Mugabe was acting not as prime minister, but as leader of his party, ZANU […]. As leader of ZANU he acted outside the law: but the law and the constitution of Zimbabwe remain in force, and I hold the ruling party, not the lawful government, responsible for the attempt on my life” (…) “It is not too late to change all that, to muster the collective energy of our people and build the new Zimbabwe we promised all those long years of suffering and struggle. During my brief exile in 1983 I appealed in this way to Prime Minister Robert Mugabe, calling as a start for a national conference of all the country’s interest groups, under his chairmanship, to begin the process of reconciliation. He did not answer then. Perhaps in the interval between writing this book and its publication he will change his mind and reply constructively. For my part, I shall continue working to that end. Long Live Zimbabwe!” (Ndlovu-Gasheni, 2010).

Both Smith and Kaunda chose Nkomo as the right candidate for negotiations for two reasons. First, because it was perceived, he was a generally acceptable figure among Zimbabweans, also as a possibly leader of an independent black government. Second, Kaunda in particular saw Nkomo as an astute negotiator who would not betray his people by negotiating for nothing less than majority rule. To Kaunda, Nkomo had already shown good political negotiating skills throughout his career as the leader of SRANC, NDP, and now ZAPU. Although the talks broke down over the timing of the introduction of the majority rule, Nkomo was willing to compromise on some aspects in his quest for independence. One thing that he could not compromise on though was the need for political independence and equality on a one man, one vote basis” (…) “Undoubtedly, the memory of Nkomo’s contributions to the decolonization of Zimbabwe, as father of Zimbabwean nationalism, astute and untiring negotiator, nationalist and subsequently in the postcolonial Zimbabwe, statesman, will forever be part of our history. That is what perhaps Eddison Zvogbo, a onetime Minister of Justice, when he positively reflected on Nkomo’s legacy a few days after his death. He stated, ‘It is true that all of us die, but some truly don’t die. It will never be possible for Joshua Nkomo’s name to vanish from our history. Josh will never die’” (Sibanda, 2017).

This is just minor tales of the political maverick and ambitious Nkomo was and his wishes for the new Zimbabwe. His vision didn’t happen and Mugabe took control. The state didn’t significantly change. He also became a part of ZANU-PF government, even after the slaughter of his ethnic brothers. That stain has former been part of ZANU-PF and the oppressive acts of Mugabe and his henchmen. One of them has now become the President Emmerson Mnangagwa. There are several other leaders who participated in these events. While Nkomo went into exile and later came back again.

I have just focused on the early 1980s and the change from Smith to Mugabe government, where Nkomo got squeezed and his leadership got ceased.

But let end with the word of ZAPU Spokesperson Iphithule kaMaphosa earlier this year:

Since the departure of the great visionary and father of the nation, Zimbabwe was plunged into all forms of anarchy and disorder with corruption, nepotism, tribalism, looting and sheer disregard of the constitution becoming the order of day. It became clear as to who was fighting these vices while it exposed Mugabe’s government both as instigators and perpetrators of these vices that has seen the demise of the once prosperous and strong economy to become a huge heap of ruins” (…) “His were aspirations of nation building with equality, dignity and fairness being cornerstone values of a democratic nation state of Zimbabwe. He abhorred tribalism and racism as practiced by the current government. He abhorred corruption which has today crippled the country’s economy. Violence was never part of his vocabulary. As we remember the great Father Zimbabwe, we will always strive to return Zimbabwe to where and what it should be, that is at peace, equality and an economic powerhouse it was. This can only be achieved when we all revisit and embrace Dr Nkomo’s values of peace building and respect for human life. The liberator he was, he conserved human life and that must be emulated, even by the current regime in Zimbabwe that feds on blood of innocent citizens who have died of poverty induced hunger and from violence that has been meted on them since 1980 (Iphithule kaMaphosa, 2017).

I think that is how this article should end. Peace.

Reference:

Iphithule kaMaphosa – ‘ ZAPU commemorates Dr Joshua Nkomo, the President Zimbabwe never had’ (01.07.2017) link: http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-press+release-byo-113199.html

Mawire, Gift – ‘Secret telegram that triggered Gukurahundi reveales Joshua Nkomo called Robert Mugabe a dog’ (16.11.2016) link: http://www.thezimbabwenewslive.com/zimbabwe-30252-secret-telegram-triggered-gukurahundi-reveales-joshua-nkomo-called-robert-mugabe-dog.html

Nkomo, Joshua – ‘Joshua Nkomo letter to Robert Mugabe from exile in the UK’ (24.12.2013) – Nkomo letter to Mugabe: “ INFORMATIVE LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER MUGABE’ (07.07.1983) link: https://www.google.no/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwip36LVruzXAhXmKJoKHcgWACUQFghHMAU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnehandaradio.com%2F2013%2F12%2F24%2Fjoshua-nkomo-letter-to-robert-mugabe-from-exile-in-the-uk%2F&usg=AOvVaw3NKWJ6SwNORyTQ4AnGWQQb

Ndlovu-Gatsheni, S. and Willems, W. (2010). Reinvoking the past in the present: changing

identities and appropriations of Joshua Nkomo in post-colonial Zimbabwe. In: African

Identities 8(3): 191-208.

Sibanda, Eliakim M. – ‘The Contributions of Joshua Nkomo to the Liberation of Zimbabwe’ (2017), Cananda

UPI – ‘Opposition leader Joshua Nkomo accused the Zimbabwe government Sunday…’ (11.03.1984) link: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/03/11/Opposition-leader-Joshua-Nkomo-accused-the-Zimbabwe-government-Sunday/6579447829200/

Womans Coalition of Zimbabwe: “Woman Dissapointed with lack of Gender Parity in Cabinet Appointments: No Democracy with Woman” (01.12.2017)

Zimbabwe: Adjusment to Ministerial Appointments (02.12.2017)