I HAVE written this letter to apologize to our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe for the recent xenophobic attacks that happened in our country.
Good day.
I would like to believe that by now you are aware of the xenophobic attacks that have been happening around the country — South Africa.
It’s with shame and heavy heart that I write this email to you all.
You have opened your homes and your hearts to us. You made some of us feel welcomed in your respective countries and homes. You hosted us with hospitality without complaining and in your homes we shared whatever little you had.
Some of you are good colleagues, friends and brothers I have grown to know and love very much.
I have been pondering whether to write this email or not, but mainly because I was ashamed of what this beautiful countries of ours has become.
In your country:My democracy was conceived when the MK soldiers fought alongside the ZIPRA forces in what was known as the Wankie Campaign in 1967.
My brothers and sisters were looked after in Lusaka and they were given shelter
The blood of my brothers and sisters were spilled in Maputo in what was known as Matola raid on January 31, 1981 and your government gave them a state burial.
The blood of my people was spilled in Maseru in what was known as Maseru Massacre and your government gave them state burial.
The foundation of my democracy was laid in Morogoro Tanzania in 1969 in what was known as the Morogoro resolution.
Your country gave my people land for them to be educated at Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (SOMAFCO) in Mazimbu Tanzania.
My soldiers were trained in Uganda, Lusaka, Angola, Mozqambique, Algeria, Libya, Cuba, Russia
They fought in Cuinto Canhavallo alongside their Angolan, Namibian as well as the Cuban comrades in Angola.
My democracy was delivered in Harare when the Harare Declaration was signed with the support of the Frontline States.
My Movement's Congress was held in your country in 1985 inKitwe, Zambia.
Your people protected, clothed and loved my movement.
My people's struggle became your own struggle. Not once did you call them with derogatory names. Not once did you burn my brothers and sisters and not once did you say they are taking your jobs and women.
But, most importantly, I have a home in Harare at Pastor Murefu's house, Zimbabwe. I have a home in Lilongwe at Cyprian's house, Malawi. I have a home in Kenya at Levi Nyambati's house. I have a home in Lusaka, Chipata, Mapanza as well as Livingstone with the BBalo and the Mutare family respectively, Zambia. My brother is lying in Mapanza, Zambia. I have a home in Cameroon Doualla at Tague's family. I have a home in Mozambique at Pastor Nhantumbo's family (May his soul rest in peace). I have a home in Ivory Cost as well as DRC Kinshasa with Vincent Tohbi.
I am married to the grand daughter of the Sena people in Malawi, Mozambique as well as Zimbabwe. My wife's maternal grandparents are in Swaziland.
My brothers, I apologize to you, your friends and your families for the barbaric action that you see in our country. I apologize to Kenyatta, Nkrumah, Machel, Tongogara, Mwalimu Nyerere, Agostinho Nehto, Mondlane, etc.
I apologize on behalf of my leaders as well as my people that this is not who we are and this is not what makes us. I apologize and I would like to tell you that this is not the view of my country, but the thuggery elements in our society who will use and drag our name in mud to achieve their evil deeds.
I would also like to assure you that our government as well as the members of our society at large, are working hard to root out these elements in our society.
We apologize because this is not who we are.
I hope you will find it in your hearts to open your doors and not to let these barbaric actions come between our friendship and all the wonderful things we have shared. My home is your home and I trust and believe that your home will remain my home.This I write from my heavy heart and I truly apologize on behalf of my friends, my family as well as all South Africans.
Freddy Tshikala South African
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Freddy Tshikala • freddy.tshikala@eskom.co.za Subject: Response from the Author of the letter Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:38:55 • Brothers
I am humbled by your response. When I wrote the letter it was from the heart and also to send a message to the world that this is not who we are. What is/was happening should not by any way be mistaken as the general feeling from all of us in the South of Limpopo.
I am humbled
Munhumutapa • n/a Subject: Truly Moving Words Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:30:37 • A truly touching tribute to the victims as well as those who take a stand against violence of any form. These words deserve to be cast in stone for all to remember as a monument to the Togetherness we share. Thank you for your heartfelt words that bring hope in the middle of all the anarchy
Stephen T Chigorimbo • NA.COM Subject: YOU HAVE RESTORED MY FAITH IN OUR BROTHERLINESS Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:47:28 • Thank you Freddy
Tears are flowing as I write this mail in response to this heart felt apology. Here is someone who actually knows what really took place and what African love and kubatana /unity is all about. I am forwarding to my colleagues too. Hopefully this can be used to spread our Africanness.
Freddy Tshikala reminded me of the Zimbabwe National Army who guarded our crew as we filmed “Asking for Trouble” which became known as Cry Freedom in 1986 all over Zimbabwe under real threat of the apartheid regime. The regime did make several sabotage attacks and maimed people like Jeremy Brickhill. I was reminded of MK friends, Black Consciousness, PAC, AMANDLA the ANC band and many friends whom we worked with at ZBC and other institutions and the fact that they hailed from south of the Limpopo was as good as Chivhu or Mrewa.
You have restored my faith in the brotherliness of Africans who happen to have been born between the Limpopo and Cape Town . My faith was badly bruised in those xenophobic attacks at a time when Zimbabwe is going through perhaps the worst battle now for Economic emancipation.
It is sad that at a time when the same colonial forces have managed to create extreme hardships for the ordinary Zimbabwean by selling the idea of Regime Change to devide our nation so evidently the last thing we want is South Africans openning another attack against us.
This is at a time when something needs to be done about the daily demonization of our leaders and particularly RGM by the SA media. The irony is it is exactly what the same media used to say and do about OT, and all the liberation forces. Remember the many anti freedom forces unleashed like Savimbi in Angola , RENAMO in Mozambique , SANDF fighting alongside Selous Scouts in Zimbabwe and a thousand other battle fronts. How they were propping up real tyrants like Mobutu completely overlooking the real suffering these people brought to their people. The only “crime” RGM did was to accept the leadership in the process of reallocating the land. You notice I say accepting leadership because it was spontaneous. Every body in Zimbabwe including those in the opposition know very well that removing control of the land from same system set up by Rhodes and Co is the key For Africans to participate in unlocking value.
Once again thank you Freddy.
Stephen T Chigorimbo
Award Winning Film Maker
AFRICAN MOTION PICTURES
Donette Read Kruger • na. Subject: NOT IN MY NAME! NOT IN MY NAME! Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:22:49 • My dear Brother,
I am overwhelmed at the annointed words you have managed to write. Praise God he gave you the strength to do so. it is a beautiful letter.
I, too, am saddened and embarressed by the events and the terrible deeds which reflect much of the history of country I was born in, Rhodesia, and later claimed back as Zimbabwe.
I too, wish to apologise to my own brothers and sisters, black - white - brown - for the terrible things that happened between us.
I sometimes see it in their eyes when they look at my white face, but when they look into my heart I hope they will see the pain I, too, endured through the violent tragedies in Zimbabwe between my own brothers and sisters, black - white - brown.
Sadly, so much that we have to be grateful for is obliterated by that which you and I, and many others, have been forced to witness, but want no part of.
Thank you for your letter, shamwari, it really brings it home how Africa is being forged in the never-ending flames of a fire that continues to lick hungrily at everything you and I stand for.. Bless you. Thank You.
Mbuya Chirambakusakara • n/a Subject: very moving Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:37:43 • Oh Bless, very moving indeed! May God grant you peace in your heart Freddy
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