A BOOK REVIEW by Bhekimpilo Sibanda
Published in The Standard 24.4.16
by Bhekimpilo Sibanda
Author: CEPHAS G. MSIPA
Title: In Pursuit of Freedom and justice -A Memoir, (paper Back) Harare Weaver Press, (185pp.) 2015.
Preamble
I will take the unusual step to warn those readers of a romance-phobic disposition that they should read with care as there is a lovely picture on page 180 of the book of (Ukhulu Msipa and his late lovely wife Charlotte on the occasion of their Diamond wedding anniversary in 2010. (A love of Steel I say) This review comes after Zimbabwe witnessed a most unusual burial of two Zimbabwean Heroines on the same day and at the same platform, at Heroes Acre: Fikile Chitepo and Vivian Mwashita. (May their souls rest in eternal peace) That occasion brought memory flashes of Mama Mafuyana, Ruth Chinamano, Sally Mugabe, Zodwa Sibanda, Susan Tswangirai, Albertina Sisulu, Grace Todd, Jenny Coltart and many others. These are/were strong loving women who are/were pillars of their spouses’ political achievements. ‘..marriages were broken due to incarceration, although the majority of wives kept their vows. They waited for many years and canadian viagra buy looked after their families’. (p. 59) (A happy 36th Independence Day Zimbabwe)
The review
‘After 84 years, I have decided to narrate what I did, with whom and why I did what I did… and I Shall always be grateful … (to) Charlotte my life partner. We got married in 1960 and she passed on in 2013 after 53 years of marriage. .. She stood by me during hard times and during good times. I am what I am because of her. She taught me love, patience, tolerance, respect and friendship . She visited me in every prison where I was detained and never complained’. (p. 179) (Aha! a tear drops) Msipa was arrested numerous times and detained more than five times, the longest being for about five years,( 10.30 am 17th December 1965 – 1970)
The book tells the often melancholy history of Zimbabwe’s colonial and post independence triabulations as it ultra violates Msipa’s deep and resolute affection of both his family and cialis 80mg australia country. It also reflects a humble and principled man. Amongst the many books which have been written by Zimbabweans about their country, In Pursuit of Freedom and Justice, brings up a fresh perspective about some critical issues and incidents. It also helps to ‘connect important missing dots in Zimbabwe’s chequered history and crosses some missing or silent tees’ by someone who remained and suffered side by side with his people.
Some of the personal highlights he sheds more light on include: Benjamin Burombo’s role in fighting the land issue and forced removals of blacks from their land; gives clarity on the formation of the ANC, NDP, ZAPU, ZANU ; confirms Enos Nkala’s passionate hatred of Joshua Nkomo, (he too does not tell us why), close friendship with ZAPU and ZANU’s who is who, including Joshua Nkomo , Leopold Takawira, Ndabaningi Sithole, Garfield Todd and Robert Mugabe, who once lived with him soon after returning from Ghana. He shines a critical spot light of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), the role of Bishop Muzorewa in opposing the Lord Pearce Commission in Zimbabwe and buy levitra brand pills usa the subsequent formation of the UANC, Zimbabwe- Rhodesia and its demise. Msipa is the one who was tasked with the duty to approach Muzorewa as a front for the Patriotic Front and when things faltered, as Muzorewa began to enjoy power. He endured the shenanigan tactics of the Rhodesian Special Branch, as they tried to influence outcomes at the Lancaster House Conference and during elections.
Various internal and external attempts to solve the Rhodesian independence question are discussed: the Victoria Falls Bridge talks, Geneva talks, Smith/Nkomo doomed talks and the Lancaster House conference, events leading to the first elections and independence and the propensity to use violence by ZANU PF. The impact of threats of violence by ZANLA, he himself could not enter the Mberengwa district to campaign in 1980. The first election campaigns and even later ones were marred by verbal and physical violence. Campaigners disappeared, in one case a whole bus of PF ZAPU campaigners went missing. Nkomo himself did not campaign in the Midlands.
This frosty relationship between ZANU PF and PF ZAPU before and after independence did not auger well for peace. Msipa gives a vivid account of how distraught Nkomo was on learning that he had lost the elections. Mafuyana, his wife was one of the few who congratulated him that the Patriotic Front had won even if his party had lost. (p.95) Charlotte and Msipa’s mother all predicted that ZANUPF would win..’ she told me without hesitation that ZANU PF was going to win overwhelmingly… I was not very surprised because I knew their election strategy and that the methods they used were such that they were bound to win’. Violence. (p. 93)
Somehow, as the parties took their separate ways after the Lancaster House conference was concluded, (he and Smith had returned to Zimbabwe before the end of the proceedings) it was clear to most people and Ian Smith that Mugabe would win. Five Special Branch Operatives had told Msipa as much before he left London to come and prepare for elections. Attempts to hoodwink PF ZAPU to take unconventional routes in partnership with the UANC were flatly spurned. Nkomo was convinced that the British hated him and that was why they would not let him win because of his Viscount guff. The election results showed that ZANU PF had 57 seats, PF ZAPU 20, Muzorewa 3 plus the 20 reserved seats for white, which were won by the RF. It was difficult for PF ZAPU to join the government, Nkomo had to be persuaded to even join as a minister of home affairs…’ PF ZAPU leadership met with Nkomo to discuss the offer of inclusion in a government of national unity. Nkomo was not keen on it. He thought it would weaken the party’. (p.96) Even if the PF ZAPU members finally joined a government of national unity, the relations remained frosty. When the dissident menace began, PF ZAPU members were easily dispensed of. Initially, Nkomo, Msika and Chinamano were removed from government in January 1981. Clement Muchachi resigned later on his own. Msipa was promoted to be a Minister but was later sacked in 1984. This act fanned the flames of disaffection from among ZIPRA fighters who already were complaining about unfair treatment in the integration exercise. Gukurawundi was unleashed on Matabeleland and part of the Midlands. Nkomo was charged on frivolous issues and when an attempt was made on his life, he escaped to London through Botswana. On arrival in London, he says in his own book (Nkomo, My life story, 1984) that even Tinny Rowland his once close friend never met or funded him. Nkomo stayed in the UK until 1986. Meanwhile Gukurawundi raged on unabated.
Gukurawundi has been written about a lot, most writers and commentators often quoting, Breaking the Silence , a publication by the Bulawayo Legal Aid Project, which has technical facts . Msipa goes further and shows how Gukurawundi achieved its objectives for a one party State by default . Believing that perhaps Mugabe did not know the extent of the mayhem Fifth Brigade was causing in Matabeleland , District Chairpersons sought an audience with Mugabe though the Governor of Matabeleland North Jacob Mudenda, when he went down for the Trade Fair in Bulawayo in May, 1983. The people who met him were the District Chairpersons of Matabeleland North : Francis Munkombwe, Binga district; Alexus Chiyasa, Hwange; Amos Mkwananzi, Tholotsho; Nkosembi Khumalo, Lupane; Welshman Mabhena, Nkayi and `Elijah Mathe, Bubi. Jacob Mudenda was central to the success of this meeting‘… The meeting started at 6. pm at State House in Bulawayo. Mnangagwa declared that he would allow it to last for only 30 minutes. … it went on for five hours’. (p.114) They told Mugabe of the excessive force used by Fifth Brigade against civilians: men, women, and children. Mugabe listened and said that he was going to confer with general Mujuru to replace the Fifth Brigade with the black boots, a Police Unit. Msipa, in the absence of Nkomo and as Secretary General of PF ZAPU kept in touch with these developments through Mudenda.
Up 1984, very little had changed when Msipa was by now Minister of Water Resources. He seized the opportunity to call another meeting during the annual Bulawayo Trade Fair week, which he was allowed to chair. Mugabe opened up the invites to more people. It was at this meeting that the participants called for Unity in order to save the people from suffering. Nkomo was still away and PF ZAPU appeared to lack direction. Msipa took it up from there, he requested and was allowed to address cabinet on the Gukurawundi uninterrupted for an hour, after which Mugabe allowed questions. At this time of Zimbabwe’s history, it took a very courageous person to do that.sz He worked with Adv. Mudenda and Rev. Banana and many others who will remain anonymous to persuade Nkomo to return and finally to clinch on the 22nd December, the Unity accord. Msipa narrates how about 90 dissidents melodramatically gave themselves up to Mudenda the Governor in Nkayi in 1988. How could so few cause so much turmoil? Economic conditions improved dramatically after that until about 1995. Corruption without checks from opposition had taken its depth. Zimbabwe had lost its way. Zimbabweans recognize the role played by the then Governor Mudenda, Rev. Banana and Msipa in bringing gukurawundi peace to our land, but a one party State had been established albeit shot lived. The MDC would be formed in 1999 and almost wrestled power from Mugabe in 2008 had it not been for violence.
After the Unity accord, things got better for people in Matabeleland and to Nkomo and Msipa. He was recalled into government as Governor of the Midlands province where he was confronted by the land reform program where he tried his best to be as humanly as possible under the circumstances. When Smith’s farm was designated, he protested profusely, but Msipa managed to remind him that he left the Lancaster conference early because he felt that the land issue would be sorted by the new government, that they were now confronting the land issue. Smith recoiled and part of his farm now belongs to MSU. Many may view the public use of Smith’s farm as an honour.
All is well that ends well. Reading the book, Msipa only once mentions that he was Secretary General of PF ZAPU. He showed true leadership. He does not trumpet about his political connections but takes them like the three Ss he re-introduces to our vocabulary again: servant of the people, service to the people and sacrifice for the people. As a principled man, I believe that he is a solid PF ZAPU member of ZANU PF. Msipa , in the 1990s, was sought after and was elected into several Company Boards, including the Grain Marketing Board which he eventually chaired and Triangle Estate. In 1991/2 he helped us avert looming starvation as chair of the GMB. As governor of the Midlands, he excelled in the service of his people, building dams and schools and other social amenities. It is also heartening that he started an Educational Trust which is helping with the education of the disadvantaged.
As if in valediction, in his reflections, Msipa deplores political violence and calls on people to accept it when their time is up. He reminds us of the dictum, that “absolute power corrupts completely” We can only join him in saying ‘forwards ever and backwards never’. A simple but very illuminative book.