By Kokwane wa Muchangani
The continued factionalism which began in 1963, on the formation of ZANU, is the reason why the party remains archaical till today.
On 8 August 1963, Ndabaningi Sithole, Leopold Takawira, Robert G. Mugabe and Moton Malianga etc formed a splinter group, to counter Joshua Nkomo’s popular ZAPU. Sithole became its first President, Takawira, its first Vice President, Mugabe, its first Secretary-General and Malianga, the Youth Secretary.
They sanitized and sugar-coated, why they turned against Nkomo. They manufactured mis-information and dis-information against him. They said “he was too nice with the colonists.” In actual fact the race card was at play. Nkomo popularly known as Father Zimbabwe, or Chibwe Chitedza was a darling of all oppressed black Zimbabweans.
Unfortunately that was how many Shona speaking people were fooled to dislike him; similar to the 2017, soft coup that dethroned Mugabe. Factly, not many Shona people turned against Father Zimbabwe, but they were forced to dislike him. No wonder why Zimbabwe never turned to be another Hotel Rwanda, because the Shonas believed in Mqabuko Nkomo. That is how the “broken window theory” was never de-bunked in Zanu PF. They believe in manipulation, coercion, torture, etc.
“The broken window theory is a criminological concept that suggests visible signs of disorder or neglect in a community can lead to an increase in crime and anti-social behavior. This theory was popularized by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling in their 1982 article “Broken Windows” in The Atlantic Monthly”.
So the ” broken window theory” is now entrenched in every corner of Zimbabwe; although Zanu Pf members are chief beneficiaries of the theory. These members don’t respect the rules and laws of the country. They don’t pay at toll gates, they attack or kill anyone they deem an enemy of the party, not country. Police officers openly take bribes, court packing is now the order of the day. Land baronism is now their cash cow. Since 1980, every election held in the country was a bloodbath.
A good case study is Job Sikhala, he was first persecuted, when he represented a slain political activist, Moreblessing of Chitungwiza. He spent nearly two years in solitary confinement at Chik Maximum Prison. Blessed Mhlanga, journalist of Heart and Soul TV, was put in remand for nearly 90 days for interviewing Comrade Bombshell Geza. Faith Zaba, editor of The Standard newspaper also made a ‘mistake’ of satirizing the owner of this country. She also enjoyed some good nights at the ‘ Remand Lodges.’ Don’t temper with the ” Deep State” it is the Holy fire. In this country this is the norm
As our courts are packed, the guys who occupy them are given Range Rovers, Ford Rangers, Toyotas, etc. as transport perks. They don’t make any ruling, it is made at Shake Shake building, somewhere near the Sheraton Hotel.
When ” Fat Boom Boom” scammed his friends Mpofu and Chingombe when they overstated their invoices to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. Instead the whistleblowers were thrown in the slammer and Boom Boom went all the way to Absa Bank smiling. This theory is unabated in this country, true visible signs of disorder. The ” Zvigananda Brigade” lives on.
A harmless and meek Job Sikhala was again attacked when he tried to launch his book at Charles Austin theatre in Masvingo, and the lame police refused to open a docket against his attackers, citing reprisal from whoever had sent them. Again last week his house in St Marys, Chitungwiza was nuked, when his book was being launched in Johannesburg, South Africa. And nobody is held responsible for that ghastly attack. I advise Advocate Sikhala to stop these book launches, already ” the broken window theory” had put much awareness about the book.
The Zimbabwean community is now going deeper in this bottomless pit of disorder or neglect in the country. Violent crime is rising daily, as Zimbabweans lack protection as law enforcers are afraid to enforce the law. Money changers who daily manipulate the economy are untouchable. The Environmental Management Authority ( EMA ) allows the elite to own fuel filling stations anywhere they like. In this country every car has its filling station.
Mining is now no longer regulated, as long as you own a shovel and pick, you are done. The Chinese Nationals are above the law, and enablers of fentanyl coming into the country. This has become normal. Hospitals are now death traps, disillusioned teachers are manning our schools, university lecturers are short changed. And some few elites are justifying this as ” liberation or freedom” from Ian Douglas Smith’s white regime. It’s unfair to compare Rhodesia and Zimbabwe, but the comparison is necessary.
