Poem chronicling govt ills since 1980 takes kombis by storm

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BARELY two weeks after a song by unknown artistes had taken Bulawayo by storm chronicling key events in Zimbabwean politics from independence to date, a poem of a similar nature has been unleashed in protest over various ills perpetrated by the government in power since 1980.

BARELY two weeks after a song by unknown artistes had taken  Bulawayo by storm chronicling key events in Zimbabwean politics from independence to date, a poem of a similar nature has been unleashed in protest over various ills perpetrated by the government in power since 1980.

LUYANDUHLOBO MAKWATI

The poem titled *Ngibhace Ezizweni* is demanding answers from relevant authorities and is being played loudly in Bulawayo kombis seeking answers to a lot of questions about the situation in Zimbabwe. 

 Poetic chants seek update, explanations and knowledge about diverse events that have gripped the country over a long period.

One of the stanzas quizzes: *Lachithwa nxasana kwenzenjani igazi eMorogoro?  Waphendlwa ngubani umlilo wEntumbane?  Yabhalwa kutheni iGrand Plan?  Kukhona okunuka santungwana ngendaba yamadissents.

Ikuliphiikhaboti  iDumbutshena Report? Yadalawa ngubani? Bangaki ababulawa yiGukurahundi? Babotshwa yini ababulalayo?  Yadalwa ngubani imoment of madness? Bangaki ababulawa yiGukurahundi? Ngiphenduleni ngibhace ezizweni (What caused the spilling of blood at Morogoro? Who started the skirmishes at Entumbane? What caused the Grand Plan to be written?   There is something fishy about the dissident issue.

In which cupboard is the Dumbutshena Report? Who started it?

How many people were killed during Gukurahundi? Were the killers arrested? Who created the moment of madness? Give me answers. I have taken refuge in faraway country. *

As if that is not enough, the second stanza continues to question the 1987 Unity Accord which was signed between Zanu PF and Zapu on December 22, whether it has borne any fruit or achieved desired expectations: *I-unity accord yasibambanisa isizwe na!  IZimbabwe yayibulewe kumbe yayizifele? Esiya eNgilandi okaMqabuko wayenzeni?*

*Did the Unity Accord unify the country? Was Zimbabwe destroyed or did it destroy itself? When Mqabuko went to England, what crime had he committed? *

*Inja eyabulalisa uSydney Malunga seyabonakala yini?*  *Was the black dog that caused the death of Sydney Malunga been found?  *the poet chants on. Malunga died in 1994 on August 28 in a car crash as he allegedly tried to avoid hitting a black dog. His death like many other mysterious deaths under Zanu PF administration, was never investigated.

Among other things the poet questions the language situation in Zimbabwe and the treatment of the disabled people. He questions why the blind are leaving the country and if they have seen any bad things.

He wonders why news bulletins on national *ZBC/TV* always begin in Shona and not in any other official language.

The poet continues the gloomy chants that link so well to the a cappella song that has seen so much play in kombis of late.

Ndebele artists seem to have found a new lease of life as they explore the state of Zimbabwean political landscape over the Zanu PF administartive period.