Chimurenga music maestro Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo, has
challenged Zanu PF to first practice good governance and foster unity in
deeply-divided Zimbabwe before demanding the removal of sanctions from the
West.
The United States slapped Zimbabwe with sanctions through
the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 over human rights
abuses by former president Robert Mugabe following a chaotic and violent land
reform programme.
The sanctions were renewed this year by US president Donald
Trump’s administration, and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF government
has blamed the embargoe for the deterioration of the economy and has been on a
charm offensive to persuade the Americans to lift the sanctions.
But Mapfumo, whose hard-hitting songs have become legendary
for speaking truth to power, said the government should stop playing with
people’s lives.
“Let’s practice good governance first. We are the ones
causing these sanctions, not the outside world. If we are not agreeing among
ourselves, they will remain.”
“What we have is politics of corruption, not development.
“Even well-known thieves hold senior positions in
government …there is too much corruption instead of them building
infrastructure such as schools, freeways and hospitals.
“Political bickering caused by partisan politics is taking
centre stage. Our politics is backwards, more than 38 years of political
fights without any development on the economic front is too much,” he said.
Mapfumo added that political elites were busy destroying
the country’s future by taking both the fruit and the branch from the tree yet
they want to eat the fruit only.
“Our politics should put more focus on developing the
economy, so that we leave an inheritance for our children,” he said.
The Chimurenga music maestro said it was sad that Zimbabwe
had witnessed insignificant development after the Zanu PF government took over
from Ian Smith’s regime at independence in 1980.
Mapfumo said Africa was not united and this had led the
resource-rich continent to always have to extend the begging bowl to countries
like China.
Mapfumo went into self-imposed exile under Mugabe’s rule
and resurfaced back home after the November military coup that ushered in
Mnangagwa’s rule.
Some believed it was a sign that he was warming up to
Mnangagwa’s rule.
However, Mapfumo has not changed his stance against the
Zanu PF government, blasting it for its failure to restore the country’s
economy.
Mapfumo is expected back in the country this month for a
“Peace” concert. It will be his second visit to the country since Mnangagwa
took over in November last year.
He has lined up eight shows around the country, which will
provide an opportunity to his fans to watch him live. Standard
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