ZIMBABWE’s various secessionist Mthwakazi political movements and supporting groups recently converged in Botswana to map out strategies to lobby the Zanu PF government to allow for the restoration of Mthwakazi state.
BY SILAS NKALA
The meeting, held last week at Chitawa Lodge, about seven kilometres from the Ramokgwebana Border between Botswana and Zimbabwe, was attended by 60 representatives from political parties and civil society groups, which are advocating for the separation of Matabeleland from the rest of the country.
These included Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF), Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP), Umhlahlo weSizwe SikaMthwakazi, Abalobi Bakithi, Abalaphi Bendulo (Traditional Healers Association), and South Africa’s chairman of Gauteng chiefs, Chief Ndwandwe, who was the guest of honour.
MLF spokesman, David Magagula told Southern Eye yesterday the meeting was a success.
“The conference was aimed at bringing together, for the first time, leaders of political organisations of Mthwakazi, non-governmental organisations, business personnel and all Mthwakazi agenda followers, to debate the route to our total independence. This was a stepping stone to Mthwakazi liberation,” he said.
Magagula said stakeholders had also resolved to complement each other in their quest for the creation of a separate state.
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The parties signed the Declaration of Independence from Zimbabwe, which they called the Chitawa Mthwakazi Declaration of Independence.
“A proclamation was clearly put that the takeover will never involve the use of force as what the detractors want to portray Mthwakazi political formations, no. It will be dealt with using the universally accepted means,” Magagula said.
Other dignitaries at the meeting included MRP president Mqondisi Moyo, MLF leader Fidelis Ncube, popularly known as General Nandinandi, Chief Zwelibanzi Gumede, former Chronicle reporter and author Jonathan Maphenduka, Mthwakazi Traditional Healers’ Association representative David Mabhinyani Ngwenya, MLF deputy president Churchill Guduza and MLF international relations secretary Crispen Nyoni.
