EXILED Chimurenga singer Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo has told Zimbabwean opposition parties and citizens to not only put their trust in God but also make an effort to fight the President Emmerson Mnangagwa's regime through peaceful protests.
The outspoken musician has always been of the view that elections won’t dislodge Mnangagwa’s administration but citizens should go into the streets to end Zanu PF’s 43 year long rule.
“The problem with Zimbabweans is that they are treating Zanu PF with kids' gloves,” he said from his Eugene, Oregon base in the United States of America where he moved to in the late 1990s.
“What you should understand is that these people understand the power of the military and how to be militant and they went to war very early in life. Some went at the ages of 13 and you think that such characters can be dethroned through the ballot box?
“There is need for a revolution if any thoughts of freedom are to be tolerated,” he said.
Mapfumo said only peaceful protests will remove the Zanu PF government.
“You can’t sit and wait for God to save you. Zimbabweans are yet to suffer, when they do they will know what to do and that is going into the streets and revolt against the system,” he said.
“We can’t just say God is in it yet you don’t fight yourself.
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“You can’t blame God for the bad things that happen to you because everyone is God’s child.
“Even a lion is from God and if it meets you it will thank its God for availing prey and you can’t expect a prayer to God to save you yet you dont make efforts to save yourself from the lion and in the Zimbabwean case the lion is the oppressor.”
The Nyoka Musango hit maker made the remarks after the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change put God first in their campaign and quest of creating a new government.
The party’s leader Nelson Chamisa who goes against Mnangagwa in the August 23 general elections has shunned violence. In the party manifesto launched last week, Chamisa wants to mould a God-fearing nation that puts God first.
“We will restore Zimbabwe back to God in honour, values, faith, worship and praise. We will give glory to God for all our victories, successes and gains,” Chamisa said.
“We will restore the role of the church as the custodians and guardians of conscience, morals and ethics of society.
“The church shall provide a campus to government speaking truth to power.
“In this regard, we will create a special mechanisms, structure and institution to facilitate for the role of the church in governance.”
“We shall dedicate nation, country, its people and resources to God for His glory.
“We will rededicate Zimbabwe to God and rebuild the alter, covenant, decrees and ordinances.
“The citizens government will create a conducive and an enabling environment for churches to worship God.
“Zimbabwe shall be known as a place of salvation, healing, redemption and restoration to the glory of God the Creator. Zimbabwe shall be known for religious tourism and visitation.”
Mapfumo christened his style of music Chimurenga, aptly meaning a “little flame”, the name of a previous revolutionary movement in the late 19th century which fought against colonialists.
Mapfumo's song Hokoyo caught the attention of the then Rhodesian government; aptly meaning “watch out”.
The song was banned on state-controlled radio stations and the Smith regime eventually threw him into prison without charges in 1979.
The imprisonment led to demonstrations in protest of his arrest and the government was pressured to release him after three months in prison camp.
After independence, Mapfumo would again criticize the government led by Robert Mugabe that he helped bring to power.
In 1989, Mapfumo released a politically charged album Corruption, which criticised Mugabe and his government. The singer became a target of the state and a regular receiver of harassment at the hands of the state. He was at one time accused of theft of a motor vehicle. The musician later moved to the United States in the late 1990s.
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