Mugabe in tribal storm
By Mugove Tafirenyika
HARARE – President Robert Mugabe is taking the flak for saying Kalanga people were “uneducated” and responsible for “petty crime” in South Africa.
Mugabe made the howler on Wednesday at a news conference just after a meeting of regional heads of State, urging Zimbabweans domiciled in South Africa to return home ostensibly because there was not much there for black people.
He said: “The majority of the people there (South Africa) say they would not want to come back even when transport is provided. Some are committing crimes like the Kalangas who are notorious for petty crimes because they are not educated.”
Former Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo was scathing in his condemnation of Mugabe, describing his sentiments as “regrettable”.
Gumbo said instead of insulting other tribes, Mugabe needed to put in place policies that are people-centred to keep Zimbabweans in the country “not categorising the Kalanga people as uneducated.”
“Surely, the responsibility of creating a favourable environment for our people lies with us,” Gumbo told the Daily News.
“It is regrettable and sad that the head of State went that far because our people are hardworking and all they need are jobs, freedom of movement, association, they need total emancipation by a responsible leadership.
“That is why we have adopted the People First slogan because that is what some of us went to war for.”
He wondered why Mugabe was blaming asylum seekers for “searching for better lives abroad”.
Cont Mhlanga, a Bulawayo-based social commentator, said Mugabe’s statement should be read as confirming that his government had failed in providing equal opportunities to all its citizens.
“Here in Lupane where I come from, we have at least two people in every village who work in South Africa, but does it mean they are uneducated?” Mhlanga asked rhetorically.
“If that is the case, then does it mean South Africa has jobs for people of all levels of education while Zimbabwe does not?
“It is unfortunate for those in leadership to think that Zimbabweans are crossing into South Africa because they are either Kalanga or uneducated or they hail from Matabeleland.”
Douglas Mwonzora, secretary-general of Morgan Tsvangirai’s opposition MDC, said it was “irresponsible” for Mugabe to denigrate the Kalanga ethnic group.
“The utterances show the disdain with which Mugabe views other communities in Zimbabwe.”
Mwonzora said Mugabe’s statement was “false, insensitive, irresponsible and tribalistic.”
Mugabe’s wife Grace last year scorned the men from the region, sarcastically describing them as bulls who were in the business of siring children but not taking care of them.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) said Mugabe was in a futile exercise to run away from “hard core facts” that migration to South Africa by people from Matabeleland was a result of the region’s marginalisation.
“Unfortunately, Mugabe is trying to hide behind a finger but facts are stubborn,” said Japhet Moyo, the ZCTU secretary-general.
“It is a fact that the region has few or no opportunities and they are pushed across the Limpopo in search of a better life not to be criminals.
“Mugabe should have listened to (SA President Jacob) Zuma when he said some of the immigrants were afraid to return to their countries because they are not free there.”
Zuma recently blamed African nations for contributing towards xenophobia in South Africa by not providing for their people in terms of opportunities as well as civil and political liberties. Daily News
