via Should we forgive Mugabe? | The Zimbabwean 25 June 2014 by Vince Museve
It was Mark Twain who once remarked that forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.
It such a difficult thing to do, to forgive a man who has caused so much pain and suffering to millions – yet remains arrogant and steadfast in his old ways. It is such a difficult undertaking to forgive somebody who has done irreparable damage to our beautiful country – yet remains convinced that only he is right.
But if we do not forgive we will remain shackled and imprisoned by a past we need to forget.
Millions of peace loving, humble, hardworking Zimbabweans all over the world must choose to perform menial tasks – not because they have no skills, or because they do not wish for a better life, but because this man has lived. They are condemned to sub-standard lives. They survive each day without much and continue to hope that the nightmare will soon be over. Millions pray each day and wonder where God is and why we must continue to witness such evil.
Worse are those men who wake up each day to defend the indefensible. Men who wake up to prop up a regime that has decimated so much potential, stolen so much from future generations, destroyed so much value and created a country where none can truly become who they wish to be.
I have spoken to many Zimbabweans in the last two years. Almost all are angry and unhappy at what our country has become. It is difficult not to be angry when you see the grinding poverty around you, when you hear how people are dying from curable diseases, simply because they cannot afford medicines.
Anyone would be angry to see children who should be in school doing nothing. Our youth have become hopeless and their dreams have been shattered. Our old folk are suffering. It is the worst of times and yet our anger will beget us nothing but pain.
Unfortunately the only power we have is to forgive this man. We must look for higher ground so that we avoid being angry and unproductive as we work hard to create the Zimbabwe we want. We must take solace in the reality that nothing lasts forever and one fine day we will forget all this.
But this does not mean that we sit and wait and do nothing. I continue to encourage all Zimbabweans to first change the way they think about themselves. This is the most important thing we can do. We must first reject that we are perpetual underlings.
In order to achieve this we need not be in a group or a political party, but must act in our own individual capacity and also influence those closest to us. Whatever is going on, it is because we have accepted it as normal and this will do nothing to change our circumstances. We must stop this habit of only complaining about our circumstances and resolve to do something about it.
The second thing we must do is to build solidarity within our communities. We have all waited in vain for political parties to unite us but it has turned out that it is not in their interest because they are based on personal power. Our responsibility is to therefore act outside these groupings so that we do not become that which we must fight against.
In my opinion, this solidarity can be built around our basic needs such as clean water, a clean environment, good health and shelter. This requires us to make those who we expect to provide these services accountable and if not, then we must refuse to pay for services that we are not getting and do it ourselves.
Until Zimbabweans get rid of this disease, this curse of paying for services that they are not receiving, we will never be able to free ourselves from abuse. Added to this is the reality that thousands of Zimbabweans continue to go to work, even if they have not been paid for months! Why – because you fear to lose the little you have and yet it is that little that is keeping you under bondage.
Thousands of small companies are going broke because they have not been paid for services rendered especially by politically connected companies and even to government and they do nothing but hope that one day they will be paid. I hear that, for example, a leading diamond company auctioning diamonds in Dubai has not paid its suppliers besides it getting paid. That is unacceptable.
Our challenge is to begin to create a national psychology that rejects abuse. This not only applies to abuse by government officials but even in private business and also in our personal relationships. You cannot expect a woman who is coming from an abusive home to be confident out there, you cannot expect a child from the same home to be confident and defend their rights out there.
The power we have within us is unlimited and can never be determined by any man or woman alive. If only we could accept this and harness this unlimited personal power within us, Zimbabwe would indeed rise.
The problem is not Mugabe, it is us. – Vince Musewe is an economist and author based in Harare. You can contact him at vtmusewe@gmail.com
COMMENTS
Should we forgive the mal-contents and journalists like Vince who have damaged the countries repute with their propaganda?
This is the real question – I think not, they should pay for their actions and answer to the general public.
Bleating’s and propaganda in the end dissolves in smoke – just because you dont know gives you no right to blame someone in order to write a story and get paid.
Mugabe is in the EU HUMAN rights COURT who, have correctly refused to accept propaganda as evidence.
There is another case which uses the fact that there are no bonne fide human rights lawyers locally and gives evidence of crime to substantiate same. This case has solid evidence attached to it. One the west would like to keep quite, hence the real reason Britain’s lawyers have yet to pitch up at court.
All very interesting and will lead to local journalists being ignored.
huh!!
Forgive him-why? Has he died? Has he said sorry? Has he stopped killing and directing his thugs? Has he stopped being a racist? This is like forgiving a man for raping your wife whilst he is still doing it and who says he will do the same tomorrow.
Vince Musewe is not exactly a rocket scientist, is he?
We could certainly forgive Mugabe if he could reign in his Jezebel wife who continues to add to the woes of ordinary Zimbabweans especially in Mashonaland Central province where forced evictions of “resettled” families continues at her behest.!
Vince has made some very valid points but forgive Mugabe? No, I don’t think so. The people’s anger should motivate them to say ”NO MORE!”
Angela Wigmore, Ian Smith is the person we should never forgive. You think the multitude that Mugabe has given land hate him??? The only people who hate our beloved President are those who lost the land they had stollen. We the majority love Mugabe. You are obviously tormented at the loss of privilege. Dream on, that privilege will never come back again. You are obviously in pain and missery but the majority of the Zimbabwean people love Mugabe. Why do you think he won the 2013 elections despite Western world propaganda against him? “IT WOULD BE AN ACT OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY IF SOMEONE WERE TO PUT YOU OUT OF YOUR HALLUCINATIONS AND MISSERY!!!” LONG LIVE MUGABE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are a very disillusional fellow with a name from outer space. Tour Mugabe is hated by his own FOOL.
Thank you Dube for your comment to Nimrod. I did not want to reply personally because his comment is idiotic and beneath contempt.
Angela Wigmore, my comment obviously “penetrated you quite deeply” by the look of your positive response. I “feel great!!”
You are an idiot Angela Wigmore. Your Ian Smith killed my father during his racist rule and was forgiven by Mugabe.
Go hang. You will never recover the farm that I have retaken. I swear!!!!!!!!!!
Nimrod I have forgiven Ian Smith because he tried to do the right thing before he passed. Unfortunately Robert as near to the end continues in his path of destruction. He will be forever known as the man that led his people to doom and starvation.
Forgiveness is such a wonderful thing. However, for one to be forgiven he has to admit wrongdoing first. Mugabe & his cronies continue to cause hardship due to their greed, arrogance, incompetence, & lust for power. They will stop at nothing to stay in power & enrich themselves with no care in the world for anybody else.I’m sure most of us are tired of watching our once beautiful & prosperous country turn into a cesspool. So why can’t we vote these people out of power? That’s right; their friends are the ones that count the votes & refuse to release the voters’ roll. I wonder why???
dont think the man is a forgiving person
He shouts and screams at people like the late Madiba Mandela accusing him of keeping the Caucasians like it is any of his business on SOuth African television
actions speak louder than words and his actions are very unforgiving from him, that Disgrace Gucci (who beat a photographer up ) and all his bufoons
this incident with Late Madiba occurred when already Madiba was on his way out –
They are not forgiving people because they consider themselves Gods
Never, ever, ever will I forgive this evil dictator for all that he has done to destroy the lives of people, split families, steal whatever he wants, accept the thieving of his henchmen and protect them, kill, murder, line his own pocket and allow his poxy wife to take whatever she wants. He can face his maker when the time comes.
Vince I don’t know where this idea of yours comes from. Forgiveness has nothing to do with anything at this time and point. How would you forgive someone who is constantly hitting you on the head , even if he constantly says I am sorry, which he does not. What ever deeds that have been done in the past would of still been recorded in our history books in the future no matter who done them. You I talking about a man that is directly involved in the Massacre of over 20 000 human beings, admits it,says it was a time of madness and still refuses to apologize for his actions. A man that still hits that region on the head by totally destroying the economy of the region he caused so much grief. I am one of those that cannot hate. I am also human and would like to see the back of this man and his cronies. Sadly for the sake of justice which I fear he will cheat again, because of his age he will never see a court room to answer for his crimes against humanity. Even if he wants to ask for forgiveness it is not us he must ask. It is his maker, for there if my beliefs serve me correctly is where he will meet his Moses. The only thing I hope for those like publicprotector that they just comment here and that’s as far as if goes. I say this just as Saif Gadaffi and many of those that propped up his father are facing the full wrath of the law, so shall those that have helped Mugabe commit these crimes will face the same fate when Mugabe is long gone.
Doc I really respect you. A lot! But I have to say that forgiveness has Everything to do with the situation in Zim. Pse read my comment further down.
Correct Doctor do little. Vince talks like he wants to qualify for a farm. Forgiveness goes together with repentence or remorse. What does he mean by saying the problem is not with Mugabe but with us?
Wow vince you stirred a hornets nest with that one and it is a pity you did not break it into two articles….anyway..
The answer to you forgiveness question has to be answered from two perspectives…the spiritual and the flesh. Our flesh does not allow us to forgive, as forgiveness is spiritual and true forgiveness and the ability to forgive is by Gods Grace through Christ in us manifested in the Holy Spirit. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us”. It is very dangerous spiritually NOT to forgive, even Mugabe and his henchmen who have devoured us. We have to live by Romans 8: 28 And we know that IN ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
I believe that the evil we find in this country is angering people to their own destruction, and if only people would come before the Lord and repent and take up the promise of 2nd Chronicles 7:14… they would see this country change. Unfortunately we see throngs of people following these false prophets and preachers spreading this prosperity cult which the poor people cling onto thinking that by some potion they are going to be well off, and it is hard to blame them after the poverty they have suffered. God the Father is the Judge and not us and we need to make sure of one thing and that is that we have laid our hearts open to Christ and born again children of the LIVING GOD.
Rev, as hard as it may be you are absolutely correct!
Do you mean forgiving or succumbing Vince.How do we forgive people in denial of a wrong doing that they inveterately shift to the British and Opposition.Did they hint on this somewhere or this is just a surmise from you Sir,not to be maligned viscerally thou.Remember even on the Gukuraundi issue they flippanly want to carry the blame with the so called Nkomo’s insurgents proportionately salvely.Without a right and wrong admission session like the TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION that South Africans modelized .How do we go about this?
Vince, I have really appreciated your articles until you wrote this one. What utter rubbish!
The irony of this mans actions is after phase 1 the immobilizing of the people he referred to as dissidents he went to phase 2 the white people, then he went to phase 3 his own tribe who suddenly realized that he was leading them to nowhere not(Norway) Then he went wild and done anybody who spoke his name negatively. Forgive him? No this is the spawn of the Devil.
The list of the first prosecutions we will deal with are as follows,Joyce Teurai Ropa Mujuru, Olivia Muchena, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Ignatius Morgan Chiminya Chombo, Patrick Antony Chinamasa, Joseph Mtekwese Made, Francis Dunstun Chenayimoyo Nhema, Walter Mzembi, Tasanangurwa Nicholas Goche, Obert Moses Mpofu Sikanyiso Ndlovu. Most of these will see the inside of a court.
When I saw the stupid headline then the armchair self appointed academics name I didn’t read the long winded attention seeking guff. But hedlin provokes enough anger to remark that mugrbage and thousands of his psychofant criminals murderers must contemplate the Same fate as befell his ilk gadaffi Saddam Hitler abacha kabila Charles Taylor caecescu Samuel doe Mubarak machel milosovic yuchushenko Mobutu Nkrumah Lumumba banda mengistu alassad Honecker bokassa etc etc. Mugarbage Is far worse than those bloodthirsty billionaire despots. Never ever even court for him. Straight to the serpents pit at chikkers and the zanoids and family relatives. No mercy. We have to set a example so that never ever again will pure evil rule murder loot. No no no forgivness
Forgiveness does not mean we do nothing and it does not mean we condone and evil or any sin. Forgiveness is vital if Zim is to go forward. leave the old man in God’s hands. He knows everything! “if we go on the road to revenge then we must dg two graves.” We will be destroyed also.
no
Vince your headline is just wrong. Whay exactly did you want to say? Was it for want of a better expression? Would it have made sense in the Shona ,Ndebele or another language? Was it a literal translation or where you just bored and decided to make a tit of yourself?
Vince has made very valid points. I seem to see some mistakes in those who are condemning the writer. My suggestion is its okay to disagree, with some of vince’s ideas, but please do not condemn. For example what is wrong with the suggestion that we refuse top pay for no service. For too long my countrymen we have tolerated low standards. Why for example should a country in the 21st century have one television station or radio ? It is precisely because Zimbabweans tolerate mediocrity.
Dump him and forget him
Forgive NEVER! Hang him or bayonet him like his thugs have done to many.
As a matter of fact on second thoughts – put him in an empty village hut and torch it like his vets did to many a poor sould during the bush war so as to teach them a lesson.
“I continue to encourage all Zimbabweans to first change the way they think about themselves.” —
Forgiveness of Mugabe is not about Mugabe, its about getting rid of the mindset that we are helpless victims of Mugabe… changing the mindset that we are completely powerless.
No
I will never forgive the evil Son of a B…ch. If I had half a chance I would send him on his way to hell, hopefully after inflicting great pain and suffering on his despicable withered body. Thereafter his repulsive wife would get the same treatment. Never will I forgive!
Mugabe will be dead soon so it is a moot point. More relevant is what to do with the zanu zealots who committed crimes agianst farm workers, opposition supporter and farmers – once zanu loses power. And then there are the Matabeleland massacres.
Perhaps Vince is guided by Matthew 18 v 21-23. Perhaps.
What is clear is that forgiving someone is not equivalent to saying they are now exempt from paying the consequences of their actions. Forgiving is a moral choice, justice a legal requirement. The two are not mutually exclusive. At its worst, one example of this would be: “Rot in jail, but I do forgive you for causing the death of my child.”
What I can more easily swallow from Vince’s piece is his; “We must stop this habit of only complaining about our circumstances and resolve to do something about it.” That I like. Let us move forwards to get justice and redress. After that I will be happy to search for forgiveness in my heart.
Vince has certainly stirred up a hornets nest. In the eyes of the flesh-man-he is 100% wrong but in the eyes of God he is 100% correct. This is not because RGM hasn’t sinned. He has. But then the bible tells us we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. true forgiveness never means we condone evil and sin. Never! But we must know as a Christian nation???? that if we cannot forgive we cannot be forgiven. Christ forgave unconditionally on the cross. If we do not forgive we not only bring a spiritual bondage on ourselves and the person concerned it also hampers the Lord from moving. When we love and forgive those who despitefully use and abuse us we heap burning coals on their heads. Those coals are God’s judgment. We release something in the spiritual that leads God to move in justice and judgment. Bottom line is: when we insist on harbouring hatred, unforgiveness, anger, resentment and bitterness we actually perpetuate the life of misery and suffering in our nation and we help Bob stay as he is. When we release all these things and confess them as sin God will move. We cannot do this in ourselves but only with God’s help. Forgiveness is vital. As hard as it may seem. And so the choice is ours. Do we forgive and be no better than ZPF and RM or do we forgive and give the Lord space to move? Unforgiveness is a cancer and gives the devil legal ground in our lives and in Zimbabwe!
NBS with all due respect my wording I am very careful to say “Forgiveness has nothing to do with anything at this time and point.” The key words being “time and point.”
Ecclesiastes 3
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Doc I still love and respect you as my Zim brother but I still do not believe forgiveness should be delayed. We should walk with forgiveness in our hearts as Christ Jesus did. I know it us hard for all of us. the hurt is bad. But it is not our way that matters but what wold God want. He doesn’t in any manner subscribe to unforgiveness even if the deeds against are heinous. It is hard!!!!!! It has to be a work of God’s spirit in our lives to forgive where we in the flesh most certainly cannot.
Only forgive him when he is dead..
NBS…Hi Brother, here is a good one you may be able to use..
You Don’t Need an Apology
You Need God
It is inevitable in a fallen world that offenses will come. Each time, we face a choice to nurse unforgiveness and bitterness or receive the offense as an opportunity to grow in God. When we have been wounded, we too often focus on getting fixed, instead of getting more of God! Too many of our prayers are about fixing some person or situation to our satisfaction. God says, “You don’t need to fix the person or circumstances. You need Me! Put your hand in Mine! Stay committed to seeing Me in this. I am inviting you to go to a deeper place in My heart.”
David gave us a model of how to pray in time of great distress. Read Psalm 63:1-8, written by David while he was in the desert, fleeing for his life either from Saul (1 Sam. 23:14) or from his rebellious son (2 Sam. 15:23,28). We all can put ourselves in David’s place, remembering a time when we were in difficulty, and it felt like someone or something was pursuing us to destroy us. Perhaps we are there now, with all the mixed emotions that David must have felt of fear, doubt, anger, and pain at being alienated from someone significant to us.
In his desperate situation, what David prayed for might surprise us. His focus was God, not his dire and desperate circumstances or his broken heart. David did not ask for protection, vindication, a quick resolution, a happy ending, or countless other good ideas and fixes that we would have instructed God to provide. God alone and His covenant-keeping relationship was the centerpiece of Psalm 63:1-8. David’s heart was fixed (Ps. 57:7). God’s lovingkindness was better than life itself, and David’s deep satisfaction was in God and the presence of God, nothing else and nothing more. The nearness of God was his good (Ps. 73:28), and he testified that he was tasting the goodness of God. He could sing in the middle of the dark night of his troubles.
In Acts 4:23-31 Peter and John had just been arrested, jailed, and threatened for speaking and preaching in the name of Jesus. Upon their release, Peter and John went back to God’s people and reported what the authorities had said. Study the response of the believers gathered there. They prayed a model prayer. “Sovereign Lord, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ” ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Their prayer was focused on their Sovereign Lord and His sure purposes. Of the seven verses, six are taken up with the praises of God, His sovereignty and power. With one sentence, they delivered their adversaries and all offenses into His hands. In one sentence, they requested that God take note of the threats and give them boldness and confidence to speak of Jesus, while God does what He does best-show Himself strong through the name of Jesus. They did not ask for vindication, stage a political action, hold a rally, or even pray for the authorities to act better. They knew that more than getting wrongs righted, they needed more of God on the scene.
In Acts 4:31, God affirmed their prayer and their purity of heart by shaking the place where they were praying, giving them a fresh touch of His Holy Spirit and empowering them with great boldness to speak His word. When they gave up the offense to God, He gave back more.
You may be saying, “But they really did me wrong!” Yes, but when we give up the offense, God gives back more. Offenses carry weight, and an apology never balances the scales. God wants to put His weight on the scale and restore more than what was lost in the offense. God turns the plans of the enemy into good (Gen. 50:20).
With David and the early church tremendous offenses had taken place: rejection, rebellion, lies, abuse, accusation, injustice, and shame. Yet neither David nor the early church nursed and rehearsed the offense. It was not made the centerpiece of their hearts and prayers.
When we are thinking, “They owe me,” or “How can I get back at them?” or “When will they get their just recompense?” or “When will they be known for who they are?” the offender still has control of our souls. We are allowing the enemy to plunder and ravage our lives still further. We must pray God-based prayers, not offense-based prayers. We may think we need our offenders to say, “I am sorry. Please forgive me.” We do not need the injustice avenged or an apology as much as we need God and what He will give us, far more than they could give us with “I’m sorry.” God would say to us, “You don’t need an apology. You need Me. You are blessed when men persecute you. Put yourself in My bosom, the place of healing and freedom. I am your very great Reward.”
Trust God as a priority. Live in these truths by the power of the Holy Spirit. Get into freedom by the Spirit of truth, because when you know the Truth and live the Truth, He will set you free.
Yes! This is good! God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. They are higher. Let us forgiven be free in our hearts otherwise we just perpetuate the hatred and destruction that has become Zimbabwe. That does not mean we cannot say zvakwana. that does not mean we accept the evil in our land. no! Absolutely not!
Mugabe never considers whatever he is doing or being done on his behalf as wrong or sin. Hence forgiving him does not really matter to him but to those who feel aggrieved, they need to let go and allow God to deal with the man since vengeance belongs to him. If Zimbabweans can do that it will help them to deal with their challenges. Biblical, God did not remove the Amorites and the Jebusites from the land of Canaan so that they become thorn in the flesh for each and every act of disobedience to God. They were whip in the hands of God, but that did not mean God was blessing the Jebusites, God allowed them for a season until their cup was full. Perhaps, Mugabe and ZANU PF are like that, their time will come. What is needed for Zimbabweans may be is to repent of all the sins, and God will send his salvation. People been thinking of MDCs or MKD or other political parties as the conduit for that salvation, but see how they have failed. But is that really the will of God to bring the redemption through them. If so why have they failed so much and many times. Politically, ZANU PF has out maneuvered all parties to stay in power since the 1980s and seemingly like God is behind them, if so why has they never managed to improve the lives of Zimbabweans since taking over. In my opinion God does not associate with failures. However he can allow bad thing to continue to achieve repentance on the oppressed.
Bruce, this is hitting the nail right on the head. Exactly. let us the church take deep note. Repentance will set this nation free.
You forgive him you will have to forgive the next thug. NO he must be brought before the courts and be subjected to questioning and sentenced accordingly.
Forgiving someone doesn’t mean they will NOT answer for their sins, crimes etc. Forgiveness comes from the heart. If RGM and all his band of not so merrymen do not repent, confess their sins and ask forgiveness they will pay a very heavy price. believe me. That is the way it is for all of us. we cannot escape God’s judgement without true repentance
this is the way of the world- it happens- people have been forgiven and yet they are not grateful that they have been forgiven and just carry on as usual
Gods ways are not our ways. It is not easy but no one will ever get off sin scott free. believe me. unless he repents truly he will be seriously judged.
Mugabe is a gukurahundi – how do you forgive a Gukurahundi? How is that possible?
I will forgive him, immediately after
I think again at this time and point we cannot put any religious situation with this man who does not even correct his followers when they say he is like Jesus. It is not easy trying to tolerate a man that has done so much harm and continues to. I get what NBS tries to say but I do differ in my way of thinking. I have not straight out said I am an unforgiving person. I have said that it is not logical to be able to forgive one when he keeps on punching you in the face. As we speak can those that are starving in the rural areas say we forgive you for making us starve. Can one with a relative dying in his house because he cannot afford to send the relative for treatment say I forgive you for the high prices we cannot afford to send our loved one to hospital so we forgive you that he is going to die. Must we say we forgive you for the corruption you unleashed on us? I think Vince was either being mischievous or there was another agenda. I will go for the first. This is not a topic I would have enjoyed getting involved because such will always bring out the Anger and the dark side in all of us. I would rather my dark side if I have one remain forever dormant.
I am a techer, not a preacer and I find it frustating to not be able to put up my whiteboard and do a study on this whole thing which believe it or not is one extremely important subject…
Basically to try to put it in a nutshell and as can be seen by the majority of posts there is extreme anger hate bitterness and a total refusal to forgive this man Mugabe. This situation is totally opposed to Gods will and Biblical principals and brought into play by the flesh and when we look at the Word we see a statement “That all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God”. So like Mugabe we are all sinners and do not have the right to point a finger at anyone, as hard as it sounds because our sin is going to take us to the same destruction as Mugabe himself. But God made a way for us by giving his sinless Son Jesus as THE ultimate sacrifice that our sins may be forgiven once and for all as we allow Christ to become our saviour through the Cross and then who are we being forgiven by Jesus, NOT TO FORGIVE? To the point where the Lord says “Love your enemies, and do good to those that revile you, and if they are hungry or thirsty give them food and drink.
When Nicodemus saw Jesus at night He told Nico..” If you are not born again you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven” So folks ask God to forgive YOU, and in your own heart forgive anyone that has hurt you and be FREE of malice hate and anger even if it is to forgive Mugabe who is your enemy AND LET GOD DEAL WITH him. The Lord Bless
There always talk that those who are leaders should lead by example????
Mugabe is NOT a leader, he is a terrorist, and a murdering tyrant and the enemy of the Zimbabwe people. He is NOT a leader!
Oh my goodness, Nimrod, from which varsity did you acquire this political naivety? The current regime’s land distribution had absolutely nothing to do with landlessness, but everything to do with invoking emotive issues to win over and brain wash the gullible into believing that their sufferings, ironically created by the same regime will be addressed by this sinister motive loaded land issue. How vote Zanu PF/ Mugabe.
In 1980 Nimrod’s precious angelic President used tribalism to win the elections by invoking the savagery Mzilikazi era and effectively divided the country into Shona and Ndebele camps with huge costs to both human capital and the economy of the country. In subsequent elections he blew the insignificant rebellion by a few delusional former Zipra guerrillas out of proportions using the state media to make this look like a threat to the state and government with tribalistic motives, needless to say he won sympathy and won a few elections.
When Nimrod’s precious angelic President realized that the the tribal and banditry imagined threats were tired and unconvincing to the populace, he invoked racism bombarding the populace with colonialism era madness of the whites thereby invoking emotional sympathy from the black majority and that too won him a few elections effectively driving any race that is not black or black enough out of the country with a scary story to tell international investors and potential investors.
Oh by the way Nimrod and your alike thinkers, all the above and below gimmicks were and are still protected by a vicious well resourced, vicious , brutal and merciless state machinery involving state security clusters, the unprofessional army, police, intelligence and youth militias. To buy their unwavering mis directed support Nimrod’s precious angelic President had to turn a blind eye to corruption, lawlessness and render some state institutions null and void.
Nimrod’s precious angelic President’s latest and seemingly last vote catching and ‘see no evil and hear no evil gimmicks are Land and economic reforms. As long as he lives this will win him a few elections too. But the question is at what cost to to the country and its development socially and economically?
Until Zimbabweans stand up and fight to unshackle themselves from the curse of Zanu PF, Mugabe and his disciples, Zimbabweans will for ever suffer disease, poverty, under development and freedom suppression for ever.