Wickedness can be as infectious as any other contagious disease, attracted by similar conditions. Any transmittable disease behaves similarly to how fire spreads. Quarantining has been the only effective way of handling infectious diseases. Without knowledge, anyone gets affected by other people’s evil conduct.
In an emotionally charged room, where people shout at each other, even good people become susceptible to also becoming emotional. This is just as one also feels jovial in a room where everyone would be jovial. In other words, the murderous person can incite another person to also commit murder.
Retaliatory behaviour is considered normal, as far as this world is concerned. Throughout the ages, civilizations have been sustained by the principle of retaliation. The most brutal wars ever fought have been considered justified, where winners are given credit. This disregards the clear insanity, causing loss of lives, on both sides.
There can never be any justification for killing another human being. Anyone can be as wicked as Satan, but advocating for the accused’s capital punishment makes one not different from the accused The perpetrator assumes justified to kill, just as the prosecutor assumes justified to hang the accused. There is an effective way of curbing that insanity, as advocated by the sanest human being, whoever lived:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, give them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:38-48 NIV).
These words should never be taken as philosophical suggestions. They should be axiomatically regarded as normal. When one person behaves foolishly, that does not entitle others to also behave foolishly. Dignified people remain dignified, regardless of the irresponsible behaviour of others. The worst punishment against enemies is doing what is good to them.
The biggest problem in this world is that foolishness is taken as wisdom. Yet at the same time wisdom is assumed to be foolish. An intelligent person knows that retaliation invites counter-retaliation. It can only be fools who remain stuck in that kind of behaviour.
Anything found to be wrong with this world emanates from the eye for an eye philosophy. Each person seeks to improve his area, wishing everything goes his way. That appears innocent and normal, but extremely abnormal. The only way to achieve what is desired is doing to others what one wishes done to himself.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:12-14 NIV).
When treated unjustly, common people suppose the right thing would be to retaliate. That means also behaving unjustly. This is the only reason why the way to life is narrow. Those succumbing to bad behaviour may have previously, been dignified, as roundly applying the above Scripture.
Rather than remaining dignified, most people get easily encouraged to apply wrongness, when assuming to be executing justice. Another reality that baffles me is the unwillingness to forgive, preferring to keep records of wrongs. And yet when unwilling to forgive, one becomes negatively affected, rather than the culprit.
This datum is obviously strange but as observable as it is true. The person, against whom injustice is carried out, is at an advantage. That is as long as refusing to be affected by the offender’s behaviour. This is why Jesus instructed his followers to pray for their enemies. There is actually, an advantage in being persecuted.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for, in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 10-14 NIV).
The opposite is what manifests when succumbing to become an effect, caused by the suppressor. This is mysterious data, but as true as displayed among those in traumatic conditions. Think of high blood pressure and many other psychosomatic illnesses.
The perpetrator of violence is always assumed as one at an advantage. But there is no truth in that theory. That person is under serious torment by demonic spirits. Hence, he needs prayers, than reprisal. He would, actually, be craving for reprisal from his victim.
Meanwhile, the victim assumes that punishing him would be the right thing to do. Paul disagrees: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12:20 NIV).
In reality, the person meting justice would, simply, be inheriting that offender’s wrongness. The narrative that Gukurahundi was spurred by what Ndebeles did, historically, against Shonas, is spurious. But, if true, the sins incurred by the Ndebeles, got effectively, inherited by the proponents of Gukurahundi.
There may not be the truth in the archival tribal narrative. Although there is truth in that the Ndebele language is spoken in Matabeleland. But it cannot be true that all Ndebele speakers are of Ndebele origin.
Let us use a hypothetical example. The Ndebele inversion of Mashonaland meant taking their women and enslaving their men, who later identified with Ndebele speakers. Children born in that region, obviously, identify themselves linguistically as Ndebele.
Although unaware, or even aware, of their historical background those victims identify themselves as Ndebele. Even though assumed as having been treated badly by Ndebele captors. The Gukurahundists, assuming to be meting justice against Ndebeles, actually included their own kinsmen—the former captives.
DNA tests could, actually, connect most of them to Shona origin. Therefore, the Gukurahundsts were demon-possessed, unable to reason accurately. This is just as there can never be reasoning in engaging in war. When critically analyzing our liberation war, the whites, considered as the enemy, benefitted more, after the war.
Whether anyone agrees or not, that war, although blamed on whites, had barbarism mostly carried out by those combatants against their fellow blacks. This extended to Gukurahundi, leaving Ian Smith’s friends amazed.
If Smith’s insanity included eliminating guerillas, the Gukurahundi did that job on his behalf. This reminds me of Gideon’s 300 soldier army, defeating their foes with 135 000 soldiers. Gideon’s 300 men got fascinated, watching their enemies mauling each other.
This is how Smith’s men must have also been fascinated. Their formidable enemy, ZIPRA, got eliminated by Mugabe. The same Mugabe, ensuring that white interests were protected, more than black interests. Yet the war was assumed to be liberating Blacks?
This reveals the insanity of war. The winner always often turns out to be the loser, as inheriting demonic forces of the war. Such demonic forces possessed the ZANU PF supporters, more than the assumed losers, who ought to have been the whites. Without this datum, most whites continued to assume being victims.
But the truth is that their loss was, actually, a blessing for them. No one knows what went on in the minds of those white farmers, for instance. The new Prime Minister was kinder to them than his own comrades. I suppose the whites assumed being superior to blacks?
That being the case, I pity them, as they would have been unaware of this datum. When granted privileges, one would be at an advantage, according to this world. The best those white farmers could have done was to use such privileges to effectively serve black people.
The bottom line is that the one under suppression is at an advantage when compared with suppressors. Not many people agree with this datum, but that does not take away its truthfulness. Jesus, actually, ratified this datum, when teaching His disciples:
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28 NIV).
Currently, the Matabeleland activists are clamouring for justice, against Gukurahundi perpetrators. I understand them, as I also lost relatives, during that war. What is even more worrisome is that those victims include children of rapists, who remain unable to secure identity cards.
However, there is no blessing, that can surpass that of taking responsibility, on behalf of suppressors. This is when compared with expecting the perpetrators to pay back. Forcing the Gugurahundists to pay back, allows them to steal the accolades from their victims.
There are so many ways by which the Gukurahundi victims could take responsibility. One way is supporting progressive parties like CCC, appearing as sane, under the circumstances. The worst is assuming that all Shonas are evil. That would be enhancing tribalism, which sustains the Gukurahundi suppressors.
Playing the tribal games is exactly what the insane Gukurahundists, prefer. But I would go as far as recommending the discarding of Ndebele language, by those Ndebele speakers. This could be the only reason Nkomo is respected, even in Mashonaland.
Former PF ZAPU members had advanced an idea of using the Patriotic Front, as a new name, in formulating the 1987 unity accord. This became a sticking point, until Nkomo trivialized ZAPU, yielding to ZANU PF. That was his strongest point, as resonating with Jesus: “And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well” (Matthew 5:40 NIV).
It is unfortunate, though, that the unity accord failed to achieve its objectives. But it brought a semblance of peace in Zimbabwe. Most of this was highlighted in one of my recent postings. See [Dwelling in the past misfortunes and past glory is anathema to progress].
I suppose, had Nkomo remained alive, tribalism would have, by now, effectively been dealt with. I am happy though, as it seems in Nelson Chamisa, Nkomo’s spirit exists. Zimbabwe looks brighter with such leaders. Forget about those invalidating that young man. He is in the right direction and may eventually win.
The Ndebele language that most people consider valuable, has got no future, like all current languages. Humanity will have a new language, in God’s coming Kingdom. There is no wisdom in putting too much value on languages and traditions. The human ego assumes that there is weakness in succumbing to other people’s languages. But there is strength in that behaviour.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, give them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:38-42 NIV).
Blessings come, only when applying the opposite of what is expected by the enemy. Doing what harms one’s enemy, invites curses hanging against the same enemy. In short, the worst thing in this world is to commit evil, against one’s enemy. All his sins would, then, be transferred from him and levelled against one.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. In a simple conversational tone, most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99
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