Letter to the Black Knight

Behold, now you walk in the footsteps of Saul, ruthlessly putting down all opposition to your unrighteous deeds. Have you not lifted yourself up even against the “Prince of the host”? If Nebuchadnezzar (who reigned over the kings of the earth) was punished for his pride, how much more thou, O Robert? You replaced Colonialism with Marxism and Imperialism with Atheism. The fall of the Berlin wall was a sign unto you, but you refused to see. The collapse of the Soviet Union was the confirmation but you would not hearken.

“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD (Obadiah 3,4).”

Do not listen to those who lie to you, for in the end they will laugh at you. They will stand aloof and wag their heads and hiss their tongues at you. Yea, they will say, “is not this the man who thought himself invincible and untouchable?” Reflect on the events of the recent past and you will know that no man is beyond retribution. Evil is decreed against you, O son of Mashona! You are walking the green mile. You are treading on thin ice. You are trying to balance on a tight rope … not knowing that it is being loosened.

Search and see that your peers have passed from the stage. Those who propped you up are now retired. How you have become a soloist! You are performing a monologue. The spotlight is upon you. Your flaws are evident. Your voice is breaking. You have lost your charm. There is no man to cover you. Look up! For the curtain is coming down on you. Ba n’ganga won’t help you. Muti will fail you. You are caught in the past. Your time was up long ago. Handover the reigns to your grandchildren! See, they are about to strip you of the little honour that is left, O black Knight!

Even now it is not too late. There are two paths before you. Choose the path of peace! Walk away, while you can (at least the shame will be lessened). Learn from Kenneth (your comrade). Listen to Levy! He is right about his analogy. You are about to sink. You only have two options: to live in shame or die in disgrace. Behold, nature itself is against you. Last year’s (2006) tremors were a warning. Look, the earthquake is coming! Your own body despises you. Listen to the voice of reason! Wisdom is calling to you.

Mashona unite, Sindebele unite, Batonga unite, Africa unite! Listen to the words of Bob (the prophet of reggae). “Afrika unite!” This is a test not for SADC alone, but for all Africans. “It doesn’t matter where you come from. As long as you’re a black man…you’re an African.” The whole world is watching to see if democracy can work in Africa. What, is not today, Sunday March 25, 2007 a significant day? How can we properly celebrate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slave trade, when we are not free from our self-styled shackles? Shall not the whole world cry out against us – hypocrites, hypocrites! Thabo, please make us proud to be Africans again. Nelson, I excuse your silence. You have borne enough on your shoulders. Peace to you, true son of Africa! Remember the words of one of Africa’s fallen heroes, Dr Martin Luther King Jr: “When one suffers, we all suffer alike. That is the interrelated structure of reality.” May the dream come true! Let us all together: Jew and Gentile, Catholic and Protestant, Red, Yellow, Black and White join hands together as brothers. Then can we all truly sing the words of the old Negro spiritual? “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last!”

Nkosi Sikelela Afrika
Maluphakmis uphondo lwayo
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi sikelela, Thina lusapho Iwayo…

NB: I am not Zimbabwean and I don’t have to be. I am an African and proud to be so. But more importantly I am a human being.