Monthly Archives: July 2012

Zimbabwe-From Bread Basket to Begging Basket

Posted on July 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

When I first came to South Africa in 2006 I was on leave. The main purpose of my visit was to study the job market here and then go back and come back later to look for employment. I was met at Park Station by my nephew who had lived here for some time and his first words were (in Shona) “Mazouyawo sekuru? Chero mabofu aona kuti hakuchagariki kwenyu uko” [You have finally decided to come, uncle. Even the blind can see that your country is no longer inhabitable). Today Zimbabwean beggars are found in almost all taxi terminuses and other busy intersections in affluent suburbs of Johannesburg.

The country that used to be the bread basket of Southern Africa is now contemplating importing maize even from Malawi (BlackSeaGrain -22/4/2011). Since when did Malawi, a mountainous country, which is almost one huge lake, gain a reputation as a maize producer. Surprisingly, most Zimbabweans have recently been declared Malawians. I have a friend who was born in Zimbabwe, by a Zimbabwean mother (who is now late), educated and trained as a teacher in Zimbabwe, taught in Zimbabwe for five years before deciding to come to South Africa in 2007 using her Zimbabwean passport. Her passport expired in 2008. When she tried to apply for a new one in 2010 she was told that she is a foreigner and has to go to Malawi first and denounce her citizenship because her father (whom she never knew) was from Malawi. She knows no-one in Malawi.

What kind of a country wastes state resources educating people and then declare them foreigners?

If I am not mistaken, in terms of good arable land, we are second only to Zambia in the SADC region. It’s time for the region to act. You cannot get rid of cockroaches in your own house if the neighbour’s house is dirty. Make sure the whole neighbourhood is clean.

The responsibility of Zimbabwe is food security. How can then the region be secure if Zimbabwe cannot feed its citizens?

The opposition parties have failed to deliver. Their policies and principles offer no change or solutions to the problems currently facing Zimbabwe. Their leaders have also declared themselves Life Presidents. What is needed in Zimbabwe is separation of State business from Party business, proportional representation in government and devolution of power. Of all the Political Parties currently flooding the political landscape in Zimbabwe, only ZAPU seems to be fighting for the people and not for the Presidency. When will the Zimbabweans ever enjoy their political independence? When will they ever know that true democracy means that your vote is not for sell and you should never be blackmailed into voting against your conscience?

With ZAPU one day Zimbabweans will wake up to a Zimbabwe where my wife supports and votes for MDC while I vote for ZAPU and we never fight about it. According to ZAPU policies, we will one day have Zimbabwe as a nation not as separate tribes and races dominated by Shona and Ndebele speaking people.

One day, Zimbabwe will belong to everyone who lives in it, regardless of where their grandfathers came from.

Mpumelelo Ndlovu

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ZAPU Won the 2008 Elections

Posted on July 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

Published: May 15, 2011

By Mpumelelo Ndlovu

In the three decades since the Lancaster House talks brought universal suffrage to Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, voter turnout in national elections has plummetted from over 95% in 1980 to just about 43% in 2008.

A mammoth drop of about 52 percentage points; 55% to be exact. Judging by the 1980 statistic, Zimbabweans are passionate about voting.

Leading to the 1980 ballot, none of the former patrotic front parties had had the opportunity to do any meaningful voter education.

In fact, even the Lancaster House talks caught them by surprise because they had purposed to take the country through the barrel of the gun.

There had been no youths or green bombers sent to terrorise the villagers forcing them to go and vote. People spent several days in the queue of their own volution.

There were no chiefs bribed with cars or partisan village headmen with registers checking who has voted.

Still, they came in their numbers to the few polling stations which were about 20km apart.

Where, then did all this enthusiasm go? While the Gukurahundi and related activities of the early to mid 1980s saw voter turnout drop 10 percentage points in 1985, it was the bombshell of the 1987 Unity Accord which was the last straw.

Only 60% of registered voters bothered to vote in the 1990 elections. Since then, only the Zimbabwe dollar fell faster than the voter turnout.

In 2008, in a country of about 14million in habitants, there were only 5.9 million registered voters and of these, only 43% cast their votes.

Of the 43% (about 2.5 million) who voted, Tswangirai got 48%.

The monarch got 43%.What does all this statistics really mean? Tswangirayi got 48% of those who voted, who were only a mere 43% of the registered voters.

So only 20% of registered voters voted for Tswangirai. Only 20%!

Who has ever ruled a country with support from only 20% of the population? Zanu got 18%, the other MDC about 4.3% of registered voters.

Well, giving a 5% allowance to ghost voters on the voters’ roll we are still left with over 50% registered voters who have not voted since the ill-fated Unity Accord.

These are the voters who are not part to the current GNU, these are the people whose interests are not represented in the current Sadc mediated talks.

These are the people ZAPU represent. The current parties to the unending talks have long lost the mandate of the majority of Zimbabweans.

Come 2012 elections, ZAPU will restore Zimbabwe to the people of Zimbabwe.

Disclaimer: The views contained in published works are their authors’ and do not necessarily represent the views of ZimEye Media or of its editors.

Source: Mpumelelo

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The ‘Me First’ Mentality

Posted on July 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

“THE ‘ME FIRST’ MENTALITY”

Luke 9:57-62

INTRODUCTION

1. As Jesus went about His earthly ministry, people either wanted to
follow Him, or were invited by Him; yet some desired to do so on
their own terms – Lk 9:57-62
a. “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
b. “Lord, I will follow you, but let me first go and bid them
farewell who are at my house.”

2. This “me first” mentality was fundamentally opposed to Jesus’ concept
of following Him…
a. He demanded that one “deny himself” to follow Him – Lk 9:23
b. He required that one “hate…his own life also” – Lk 14:26

[Living in a culture that praises putting self first and then “Looking
Out For #1”, it easy for Christians to adopt this “me first” mentality.
Consider some ways we can be guilty of…]

I. THE “ME FIRST” MENTALITY

A. IN OUR ATTENDANCE…
1. The Scriptures reveal the example and value of assembling
together with other Christians – Ac 2:42; 20:7; He 10:25
2. Yet many will often put personal interests before opportunities
to attend services:
a. Recreational outings
b. Family gatherings
c. Elective work or school related activities
d. Staying home to read or watch TV
— Haphazard attendance is a sign of the “me first” mentality

B. IN OUR CONTRIBUTION…
1. Christians are instructed to give of their prosperity to meet
certain needs – 1Co 16:1-2; 2Co 9:7-9
2. Yet many will give sparingly because:
a. They want to spend as much as possible on things for
themselves
b. They have failed to properly budget their contribution to
the Lord
c. They are burdened with bills for things that are not
necessities, but actually luxuries
— Negligent giving of our prosperity is a sign of the “me first”
mentality

C. IN OUR SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER…
1. God has blessed each of us with gifts to serve one another – Ro
12:3-8; 1Pe 4:10-11
2. Yet many make little effort to do their part in the work of the
local congregation:
a. They do not learn the names of the other members
b. They do not seek to find their “gift” or ability God has
given them
c. Men do not attend the business meetings; women do not teach
classes
d. They may attend church, but only to receive, not to give of
themselves
— Lack of involvement in the local church is a sign of the “me
first” mentality

D. IN OUR FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS…
1. Christians have duties to members of their physical families
– Col 3:18-21; Ep 5:22,25,33
2. Many families suffer when people seek their own interests above
another
a. When husbands and wives are selfish in their dealings with
each other
b. When parents divorce without regard to the impact on their
children
c. When children fail to honor and obey their parents
— Dysfunctional families abound where the “me first” mentality
exists

[Our service to the Lord, His church and our families is greatly
hindered by the “me first” mentality, and is detrimental to our souls
those around us. How much better, for us to learn and practice…]

II. THE “OTHERS FIRST” PRINCIPLE

A. AS EXEMPLIFIED BY CHRIST…
1. He came to this earth because He put others first – 2Co 8:9;
Mt 20:28
2. We are called upon to adorn the same mind or attitude – Php 2:
3-8
a. To do nothing through selfish ambition or conceit
b. To esteem others better than ourselves
c. To look out for the interests of others
— Jesus exemplified the principle of “others first” that He
desires in us as well

B. AS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE MACEDONIANS…
1. Note their great liberality despite their own poverty – 2Co 8:
1-4
2. Note why they were able to be so gracious in thinking of others
first – 2Co 8:5
a. They first gave of themselves to the Lord, then to others!
b. The mentality of “Lord first” instead of “me first” enabled
them to put “others first”
3. Their liberality continued in supporting Paul to preach the
gospel – cf. Php 4:10-18
4. Putting God and others first ensured that their needs would be
met – Php 4:19
— The Macedonians exemplified the true value of putting “others
first”

CONCLUSION

1. Do we have the “me first” mentality…?
a. If we do, we cannot be Jesus’ disciples
b. If we do, the church and our own spiritual lives will suffer

2. Do we want to be rid of the “me first” mentality…?
a. The “me first” mentality will be destroyed when we adopt the
“others first” principle
b. The “others first” principle will be developed as we make “the
kingdom of God first” – Mt 6:33

When we truly put the kingdom of God and others before ourselves, then
the Lord will see to it that we have the things that we need…! – cf.
Mt 6:30-33; Php 4:19

the me first mentality

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Condemned by Others

Posted on July 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

“CONDEMNED BY OTHERS”

Luke 11:31-32

INTRODUCTION

1. On the Judgment Day, we will be judged by Jesus Christ…
a. As claimed by Jesus Himself – Jn 12:48
b. As taught by the apostle Paul – Ac 17:30-31; 2Co 5:10; 2Ti 4:1

2. But Jesus also spoke of others judging on that Day…
a. The Queen of the South – Lk 11:31
b. The men of Nineveh – Lk 11:32

[In what way will they judge the generation of Jesus’ day? Might they
also judge us on that day? Let’s take a closer look…]

I. THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND…
1. The Queen of the South was also known as the Queen of Sheba
– 1Ki 10:1
a. Sheba was likely a city of Arabia (possibly Yemen)
b. Located south of Judea, at least twelve hundred miles
(Hendriksen)
2. She came to see Solomon – 1Ki 10:2-13
a. With a great retinue and much wealth
b. But was amazed by Solomon’s wisdom and wealth
c. She praised Solomon and gave him great gifts
d. Solomon gave gifts to her in return

B. WHY SHE WILL CONDEMN THEM…
1. She traveled a great distance to hear truth; they had the truth
at hand – Lk 11:31
2. She traveled to hear Solomon; they had access to One far wiser,
better and greater
3. By past example and future testimony she will condemn those who
rejected Jesus!

C. WILL SHE CONDEMN US…?
1. If we reject such easy access to the Word of God today?
2. If we allow such things as time and distance to keep us from
learning the truth, attending services, going to gospel
meetings, etc.?

D. MIGHT OTHERS CONDEMN US…?
1. There are Christians today whose example might put us to shame
a. Who must use public transportation, travel great distances,
often with feeble health, to attend services of the church,
or to hear the gospel preached
b. Might they not rise with the Queen of the South to condemn
us on the Judgment Day, if we make excuses for not making
the effort to learn the truth and serve the Lord?
2. There are even non-Christians whose example could shame us
a. Those whose make great sacrifices for their political or
religious views
b. Do they serve their ideologies with greater fervor than we
do our Lord?

[Now let’s take a closer look at…]

II. THE MEN OF NINEVEH

A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND…
1. Jonah was sent to preach to the Ninevites – Jon 1:1-2; 3:1-4
a. The capital of ancient Assyria, a large city
b. His message: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be
overthrown!
2. The men of Nineveh responded favorably – Jon 3:5-10
a. The people believed, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth
b. The king likewise, calling for national fasting and prayer
for forgiveness
c. God relented from the disaster He said that He would bring
upon them

B. WHY THEY WILL CONDEMN THEM…
1. The Ninevites heeded:
a. A minor prophet – Lk 11:32
b. A sinful, foolish, and bigoted prophet
c. A message of damnation and doom
d. A sermon without signs and wonder to confirm it
2. The Israelites rejected:
a. The Son of God – Lk 11:32
b. A sinless, wise and compassionate Messiah
c. A message of grace and redemption
d. Many sermons with signs and wonders to confirm them as being
from God
3. By past example and future testimony they will condemn those
who rejected Jesus!

C. WILL THEY CONDEMN US…?
1. If we reject the words of Jesus Christ today?
2. If we refuse to repent and respond to the gospel of Jesus
Christ, despite the many opportunities that have been given to
us?

D. MIGHT OTHERS CONDEMN US…?
1. There are Christians today whose example might put us to shame
a. Who respond in faith and repentance as soon as they
understand God’s Word?
b. Might they not rise with the men of Nineveh to condemn us on
the Judgment Day, if we make excuses for not obeying the
truth though we’ve heard it many times?
2. There are even non-Christians whose example could shame us
a. Who quickly respond in obedience, even though it may be to
religious error?
b. Do they serve their false religions with greater fervor than
we do our Lord?

CONCLUSION

1. With whom shall we stand on the Judgment Day…?
a. Will it be with those like the Queen of the South and the men of
Nineveh?
b. Or with those like the Israelites who rejected the Savior sent to
them?

2. The answer depends on how we make use of the opportunities given
us…
a. Whether we will make the effort to learn the truth
b. Whether we will make the effort to heed the truth

Even more than the Israelites of Jesus’ day, we have been given a great
opportunity to know, learn and obey His message of grace and salvation.
Reject it, and we can expect to be condemned, not only by Jesus, but by
all who received His message in faith and obedience…!
Condemned by Others

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