Sport is for all Zimbabweans: it is our responsibility to defend it
We write in response to the attack being levelled against Free-Zim Youths by the Zimvigil with regards to FZY's stance on the recent visit by Peter Chingoka to the UK to attend an ICC Board meeting.
The problem that we have been having as Zimbabweans is that we have become too paranoid and polarized to the extend that we even believe that anything that is indigenously Zimbabwean is inadequate. We have looked too far for help forgetting the power we have as a united front. We have failed to appreciate our identity as Zimbabweans. We cannot stand up and say Zimbabwe is not ZANU PF and likewise it is not MDC. Zimbabwe is us! Neither US nor UK .
"Only Africa can fight for her destiny. In this struggle we shall not reject the assistance and support of our friends, but we will yield to no enemy, however strong."- Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah
Every Zimbabwean loves the national team and really if we are patriotic (not jingoistic) we should let sport be above politics. Sport should unite us as Zimbabweans and not split us into cohorts of political cliques
It is this lack of nationalistic identity that has allowed ZANU PF to monopolize our beloved teams simply because we cannot stand up in the open and explicitly tell Webster Shamhu that Dynamos is not ZANU FC. We cannot tell Mugabe that being patron of Zimbabwe Cricket Union does not mean that he has a sweeping say on the game and it’s a lack of ideologically clarity and Afro-centric strategies, that have allowed ZANU PF,to have political leverage within the mama Africa .
Because of this fear we are now going out shouting for help from other sovereign states, who in actual fact respect their own national teams. We are now cry-babies. Let us defend sport in Zimbabwe . Likewise let us defend Zimbabwe from machinations of both local and international imperialists. Let us solve the crisis in our country the Zimbabwean way- the gallant way, the patriotic way, the courageous way!
Travelling or not travelling these people will continue to take advantage of our docility and our begging ways on matters of national interest. . Our struggle should not be why the ZCU should get money but how ZCU is going to use that money. Getting it or not getting it may have the same effect: Zimbabwe cricket might continue to fall but that doesn’t mean we are failures. So what is better; to defend that which we have or not to have anything to defend. Hope and Courage are the spices of responsibility! Let us have hope for a better Zimbabwe and have the courage to confront each other on issues on national importance!
The Literal translation of the phrase “ Zimbabwe is an African problem that needs an African solution” applies to all aspects of the demography be it Political or social, critically on issues of national interest, as the Youth we are sending a massage to all those mendacious or sudo - progressive organs that, they need to respect the will and interest of the African indigenous.
Until such a time when we shall have garnered enough confidence that we are stronger than a thousand bullets; Mugabe will continue to be a freedom-fighter. We are not freedom-fighters; we are fighters for freedom!
No one will ever come from anywhere to free us; it is our responsibility!
Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans
Zimbabwe Youth Movement