The Sunday Mail
The Sharp Shooter Vukani Madoda —
The rich Shona language has a statement that talks about “kudya nhoko dzezvironda”, loosely translated to mean “eating the wound clots”. If you like, this simply means living in dire circumstances.
Thus said, we are tired of the so-called war vets who take political arms against President Robert Mugabe, only for them to cut a pathetic and miserable yesteryear hero a few months down the line.
Those not happy with Cde Mugabe’s leadership should refrain from criticising him and construct their own political party at their own peril.
Previously decorated war vets such as Joice Runainda Mugari Mujuru, Didymus Noel Edwin Mutasa, Rugare Gumbo, Jabulani Sibanda, Margaret Dongo, Kudzai Mbudzi and so on took what remained of their dignity and formed their own struggling political party.
Christopher Mutsvangwa and Douglas Mahiya should do the same or shamefully join hands with their former nemesis of the Gamatox fame, whom they previously lambasted.
Throughout the year, Joice Mujuru constantly threatened us that her ZimPF outfit was a very big political party that was going to over-run theZanu PF structures and strategies. But it is not surprising that by now, we are all under no illusion as to the worthlessness of the ZimPF party formed by a rogue war veteran.
But that is democracy for you. The principles of democracy do not dictate that one wallows in flimsy criticism of another but on the contrary, that one forms his or her solutions for the national good.
Joice has tried that and regrettably the miserable failures keep flying in her face while the rotten eggs form a slimy smug on the edges of her mouth each time she tries to find fault in Cde Mugabe.
On the other hand, the private media task themselves at every other diary meeting to hype the alleged murder of her husband, General Solomon Mujuru. Time and again, Joice, who was hardly married to General Mujuru, tries to score cheap points by slaughtering his legacy.
Surely, we must admit that at times we are afraid of the kind of fear these theatrics have to an extent instilled in us. But the year has gone by and there is no resurgence to talk about in ZimPF.
No BUILD and no more money to place the full page advertorials she was so fond of placing yesteryear in the struggling private media. That was like taking a donkey to the river of anti-revolutionary waters; it wouldn’t drink, of course.
Since becoming a rogue war vet, Joice Mujuru has neither put Zimbabwe first or second or third. It is only her selfish whims that exude whenever she opens her mouth, clearly reflecting that she is the one who is first in her party, while munching on sour grapes and criticising Cde Mugabe comes second. Zimbabwe is nowhere on her priorities.
But the face of rogue war veterans remains Rugare Gumbo. However, the very sad predicament is what has become of this rabble-rouser of the infamous Nhari Rebellion.
This loud-mouth constantly disturbed our peace last year each time he thought the private media was not saying enough about ZimPF. It is not far from the truth that he is one of the most pitiable rogue war vets who never managed to grasp that “once bitten twice shy”.
For this previously decorated war vet, he has to be bitten twice for him to be shy once and forever more. You should have seen him at Cde Cephas Msipa’s funeral. You should have seen the mortifying look of bewilderment when Madyirapazhe shook hands with Cde Mugabe.
Here was a rogue war vet awe-stricken about what became of him by antagonising Zanu-PF and its leader, through blabber-mouthing his way into political oblivion. Here was a rogue war vet who was itching with nostalgia, remembering that he was one of the most powerful voices of this land until he decided against better judgement to form a fly-by-night party called ZimPF.
The same fate awaits Christopher Mutsvangwa and Douglas Mahiya. The writing is either on the wall or this column.
After Didymus Mutasa’s expulsion from Zanu PF, the loss of his parliamentary seat and his subsequent boycott of the by-election, the fellow withered into a very sad and pale shadow of the former security minister that he was.
No one can ever imagine he was once a decorated war veteran. The rogue element simply hit hard times although now and again he would mumble something inaudible to the private media.
The fear that he had instilled in and around Makoni district first wilted into laughter until it slowly turned into sympathy. Nyati soon became an old grey-skinned buffalo that had progressively established its unenviable place in a rogue ZimPF party where he will remain until Nera feels pity and allows him to retire.
But that is democracy for you. That is how rogue war vets often end up. Desperate, desolate, demeaned and disgusting. Look at Margaret Dongo, you wonder which war of liberation she fought in.
She herself is not at liberty to think clearly which party to support. Sisi Maggie should just quit politics because she has convinced herself and everyone else who cares to listen that she is the Marujata of rogue war vets.
Then you have Jabulani Sibanda. What a pity! A rogue war vet who is sexually transmitted to ZimPF and then ends up lonely and disillusioned. His absence from various ZimPF fora show that he is completely disenchanted with the political choices he made at the prime of his career.
Previously the bane of opposition parties in the country, Jabu over-indulged his excesses in a bid to be accepted across the great divide. He sunk into political wilderness and no one is bothering to look for him.
Today, we have Chris Mutsvangwa and Doug Mahiya outdoing each other to suffer the same fate. Well, let them be. Zanu PF will continue to feast unperturbed by those that have betrayed the struggle.
— Dubulaizitha!
