About Me - CHINYOKA ON TUESDAY

CHINYOKA ON TUESDAY

I have written a version of CHINYOKA ON TUESDAY on and off since around 2013. It was published largely on nehandaradio.com, The Herald and The Sunday Mail in one form or another. As is the norm on such platforms, I had no editorial control, and had to pitch the pieces as delimited by editorial policy. This present platform allows followers of the column, old and new, to hear directly and unfiltered from me.

If someone said who are you, I would say that I was a son to man that died, fittingly, on Zimbabwe’s very first Heroes Day, and that I am a Zimbabwean. These two facts explain why I became a lawyer, and why I have spent my life fighting social injustice since undergrad studies in the early 1990s, but perhaps those stories will be told in their own time. I spent more than 16 years outside my beloved country but a deep love for this country brought me back following the momentous events in Zimbabwe in 2017.

Still, I fully suspect that had I been born earlier, I would have participated in the liberation war like two of my older siblings and seven of their cousins, sons of Father’s sister and brother. It is ironic that my view of the world, my political philosophy, was inspired not by politicians but by two people: a Mr Sayekhaya who taught me A Level History at Dadaya Mission before that fire, and that greatest of all poets: Mzwakhe Mbuli. His album “Unbroken Spirit”, and particularly the song “Achimurenga”, was a constant refuge in my troubled teens. I honour these two heroes of mine in my work, which is why the judgment of the rest does not affect me as some think it should.

I have two abiding but simple truths: no political party holds the title deeds to my loyalty, and no matter what people might say or think, I am faithful to two mistresses: the facts and the law. I will write in support of those who differ with me politically if on one point we agree, and I will criticise and call out those who share my political views when they err, which does happen. Often.

Guided by these two principles, I will comment on a variety of subjects, but my main focus is an almost pathological aversion to corruption. Sadly, corruption has embedded itself into every strata of society, pointing this out makes one both a friend of none and eternally poor. Honesty does not pay — and can get you killed. Yet, in the choice between honesty and joining the bandwagon, eleventeen times out of ten, I will choose to be honest and poor.

Corruption makes good people (and we still have a few) wonder how it will all end. Is the Zimbabwe we want, the Zimbabwe we deserve, achievable in our lifetimes? Many urge others to leave, to seek pastures anew and, as I have said, I too once left. Is that the solution? Is that our lot in this iteration of humankind, to despair and resign from it all because Zimbabwe cannot be fixed?
I think not.

And so I offer this column to urge us not to give over to resignation, and instead see the true promise of Zimbabwe. The promise of a country that will go past the politics of personalities to the politics of values. The promise of state institutions that are pillars of democracy, equality, prosperity and fraternity, institutions that don’t rely on human actors, no matter who they are, but on values, laws, and a common destiny. That, can only be the promise of the Zimbabwe that the liberation war was fought for. The Zimbabwe we want, the Zimbabwe we yearn for, the Zimbabwe we deserve, the Zimbabwe that we must see in our lifetimes.
“Pamberi neChimurenga, Pamberi neHondo!”

Achimurenga*

The wind and the determination of my internal being, cannot be seen by an eye The longer the period of arbitrary and hate, the more the status of freedom becomes clearer While fighting for the truth, others are battling for the riches, to dry Africa! Pambili ne Chimurenga! Pambili ne Hondo! Pambili ne Chimurenga! Pambili ne Hondo! Loyalty to the nation brings blessings Betrayal to the masses leads to ambush Such unpalatable facts are stubborn to swallow Black and white hearts are confined to justice alike Life is full of heroism as l march, on the Achimurenga, that retains a degree of flexibility, In the supreme machinery to free the people. Achimurenga shall smite Achimurenga shall bury traversities of injustice Out of the propaganda machinery, self styled deligious and cohorts emerged The regime’s co-optation granted blossomed The appropriation of our rights, to regain land marked not negotiable Bribery and betrayal became identical, in perpetuating the misery of humankind Before the last strategy of god, the beat from the drums of liberty Shall sound and vibrate to all the corners of Central Africa Pambili ne Chimurenga! Pambili ne Hondo! Remove the shackles and hurdles that belittle your movements, Hold fast the arm of the machinery and perpetuate the sub-canto to the degree of crescendo When your movements are closely monitored Zig zag right Zig zag left And zig zag to the centre Together we shall plough in unity And together we shall free our land Or together we shall perish for those freedoms Pambili ne Chimurenga Pambili ne Hondo Unofficial lyrics from the album “Unbroken Spirit by Mzwakhe Mbuli