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BIRTH AND FAMILY

Mqondisi Moyo was born on 06 June 1978 to a Christian family. Of the nine siblings, he is the last born. His father was Gideon Sitokwana Mlingo Moyo, a ZPRA freedom fighter and educationist, who passed away just three months after Mqondisi was born. His mother is Elina Moyo, nee Gumpo.

SCHOOLING

For his Primary education, Mqondisi went to Gwandavale Primary School in Ward 17, Matobo North in Matabeleland South, where he studied up to the sixth grade. He transferred to Ross Camp Primary School in Bulawayo in 1991 for his Grade 7 classes. In 1992, he enrolled at Phumula High School for Form One. He transferred in 1993, to Mosi Oa Tunya Secondary School in Victoria Falls, where he did the Zimbabwe Junior Certificate (ZJC) Course, and completed his Ordinary Level of education in 1995 at the same school.

PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

At Gwandavale Primary School, Mqondisi was coopted into the school soccer team, which offered such schools as Silozwi, Lushumbe, Sibundule, and Halale, a stiff competition. This talent got him selected to Ross Camp Primary School's Division One team. There, he played with fellow learners who would later play for nationally recognized teams. Johnston Shambarume, and Innocent Mutandavari, for example, would be Rail Stars player and Captain respectively. Later, he and his longtime friend, Solomon Grahams Nyathi, played for the Under 17 Railway Safaris Football Club in Victoria Falls that had been formed and sponsored by National Railways of Zimbabwe. Colleagues called him Agent Ajira Sawu, after one of the country's soccer icons.

Still at Mosi OA Tunya, Mqondisi Moyo, with Christopher Lucky Dube and Alick Ncube  formed an Imbube dance group, which they called Real Sparrows. Real Sparrows sang at school gatherings, and later got a contract to entertain guests in various Victoria Falls hotels. The group, which changed its name to Umbelebele Music and Dance Group, toured some few countries after Mqondisi had left.

RELIGIOUS INVOLVEMENT

Upon returning to Bulawayo in 1996, Mqondisi Moyo chose to live a Christian life. He joined Gospel Light Fellowship Pentecostal church in Phumula North in Bulawayo. By so doing, he left his childhood Church, the Brethren in Christ Church.

At Gospel Light, he was given responsibility to be the Church’s Youth Chairperson at the end of 1996, a position he held until around 2002. He was also a member of the Praise and Worship team, and a preacher.

Having secured a job as a general hand at Belmor Manufacturers Clothing Company in Bulawayo in 1998, the now MRP leader devoted himself to preaching to company employees who numbered more than 400, and his Workforce number was 383.

This was made possible by management at Belmor allocating 30 minutes to morning devotions before daily work routines commenced. Religiously, the company had relations with the National Evangelism Commission of Zimbabwe (NECOZ), a non- denominational organization founded by his mentor in leadership, the late Pastor Matthew Mpofu, (may his soul rest in peace).

Mqondisi Moyo had been one of those NECOZ had trained as Chaplains, and had in 1999 graduated with a Certificate in Advanced Evangelism. NECOZ had more than 30 chapels affiliated with it in different industries including clothing, mining, and engineering among others. The organization had partners in Holland, Hong Kong, USA, Botswana and South Africa. It was guided by its motto: "Taking the Gospel to the Workplace"

Under Mqondisi's Chapel leadership at Belmor, the company won the Best Chapel of the Year prize in 2000. A trophy was awarded to the company, and he personally won awards including money.

By popular vote, Moyo was, in 2000, nominated for inclusion in the Workers' Committee which was to be managed by Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). Fearing to compromise his Christian values, Moyo declined the offer, citing he feared he would either turn against management, or betray fellow employees as many had done before. This disappointed many in the company who had seen a level headed representative in him.

On one occasion, Mr. Van Der Burg and Mr. Venon Prince who were Company Director and Production Manager respectively, enquired why he preached every week, yet the company continued losing out due to theft by the employees. His response was "I preach so that people may repent and be saved, not that they stop stealing".

The Chapel over which Mqondisi Moyo was leader comprised of leaders from various denominations: Adventists, Catholics, Pentecostals, and many others, but through his leadership, all worked harmoniously with one goal.

Having served Belmor for four years, Mqondisi voluntarily resigned in 2001. He had, during his stay served the company under different departments including working as clerical staff, machine operator, and supervisor in some instances. Both management and junior staff were touched by his resignation.

FURTHER STUDIES

Beginning of 2002, Mqondisi Moyo started Accounting Studies with Zimbabwe Association of Accounting Technicians (ZAAT), which later became Southern African Association of Accountants (SAAA).

When he left Belmor in 2001, he had been offered to undergo a four year Pastoral training in

Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. Others who were accepted at the college headed by Reverend Warrick Edwards then, were Thokozani Jele and Huggins Ncube, Moyo’s cousin brother. Unfortunately, he could not commence the training because he had no passport. As for Huggins, his study visa delayed until he joined World Vision. Jele successfully completed the training and is pastoring a Church in South Africa.

EMPLOYMENT

In 2003, the now MRP President got a job as a Projects Officer with Dondolo Mudonzvo Trust in Harare, a European Union funded Non Governmental Organization which focused on helping women in project work.

Moyo stayed with Dondolo up to December 2006, when they could not continue because the EU had withdrawn its funding as part of sanctions for the country due to its persistent violation of human rights. He had by then, been Administrator at the Headquarters in Harare, reporting directly to the Board of Trustees.

When the Trust was disbanding, Mqondisi Moyo was tasked by the Board of Trustees to break the sad news to other employees, and that he alone would remain in charge of the Trust's property. He refused, stating that his workmates would feel betrayed if he only, remained. Instead, he advised Board members to sell company assets in order to pay workers retrenchment packages. They shot down the proposal, but Mqondisi also insisted on being out of employment with his colleagues. Assets of the Trust included a big building in Harare and some vehicles.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT

Mqondisi Moyo returned home (Bulawayo) at the end of 2006 and met his would be mentor, Qhubekani

Dube (May his dear soul rest in peace), founder and then Chairperson of Ibhetshu LikaZulu. Dube shared with Moyo his vision regarding the marginalization of Matabeleland, and asked him to assume the office of the organization’s Information and Publicity Secretary, which was vacant then. Initially, Moyo declined citing his Christian beliefs and values. It was not until he was shown the 1979 Shona Grand Plan document that he began to appreciate the need for his involvement with Ibhetshu LikaZulu. Instantly, he accepted responsibility as Information and Publicity Secretary.

Several victories were recorded by Ibhetshu LikaZulu since its inception. They include among others: stopping TM Hyper Cowdray park branch from employing a work force which management had brought from Harare and some parts of Mashonaland. They wanted the enterprise to employ locals instead. Eventually Cowdray park youths and community members got employed. Several other local employment tendencies which favored people from Mashonaland were fought with success in Bulawayo and parts of Matabeleland and Midlands.

Involvement with COPAC

At the end of 2009, the three political parties that were in the Government of National Unity (GNU) had set up a Constitution Parliamentary Committee (COPAC). These parties, which had representatives in Parliament from the 2008 Harmonised elections were ZANU PF under Robert Mugabe,  MDC T, then led by Morgan Tsvangirai and MDC led by Arthur Mutambara. This establishment was a result of the mediation of the South African President Thabo Mbeki, on SADC assignment.

The committee, set up after the signing of the Global Political Agreement, was tasked with among other things, recruiting members from their political parties, and civic organizations aligned to them, who would be part of the COPAC outreach teams. It was through this conduit that Mqondisi Moyo, along with Qhubekani Dube, Phathisani Nondo, Mbuso Fuzwayo and Philani Ncube, all members of Ibhetshu Likazulu, a civic group which was sympathetic to the Mutambara led MDC, were incorporated into COPAC. On 10 January 2010, COPAC invited its members to four day training on the Constitution making process at the Harare International Conference Centre. Mqondisi Moyo attended and participated under a Thematic Committee of Lands. A $200 allowance was paid out, and COPAC regalia issued to each participant at the end of training.

When names of all people who would participate in the outreach programme were publicized on the press in April 2010,   Mqondisi Moyo, Qhubekani Dube and Phathisani Nondo's names did not appear. Prior to this, the trio had been tipped by a Bulawayo MDC M senior member concerning an intention to have them struck off the list because they were ZAPU members. MDC leadership was, however, willing to protect them if only they crossed the floor to join the party. The three argued that they had been invited to COPAC as members of Ibhetshu Likazulu, and not of ZAPU. Threats to lose out on allowances if the three allowed to be removed from COPAC were issued, but they answered that they had not joined COPAC to make money, but to add value to the Constitution making process.

When the final list of participants was released, Mqondisi Moyo, Qhubekani Dube and Phathisani Nondo engaged Sindiso Shepherd Mazibisa, who was a senior lawyer at Cheda and Partners then, to expose the rot in COPAC, that it was not pursuing a people driven Constitution, but the interests of the three political parties. The case was presided over by Justice Nicholas Ndou at Bulawayo High Court. Josphat Tshuma, assigned by Mutambara led MDC, represented COPAC. Although the ruling on the case was flawed, perhaps in order to save the face of COPAC, whose operations were financed by international bodies, the matter attracted the attention of a wider public, and ended up bringing in National Constitutional Assembly chairperson, a Constitutional expert, Lovemore Madhuku.

Mazibisa, in agreement with Madhuku suggested that the matter be raised with the Supreme Court. Not wanting to expose MDC whose membership was predominantly Ndebele, Mqondisi advised dropping the case, so as to protect the image of MDC and to honor Qhubekani Dube who had already passed away, and had high respect for Prof Welshman Ncube who was a leading member of the MDC. Moyo's argument was that he was not motivated by money, but by his principles and Ubuntu informed values. This way, Mqondisi, Phathisani, and the late Qhubekani remained at ZAPU and Ibhetshu Likazulu, shunning selling out for financial gains. This was despite the fact that none of the three was employed when they joined COPAC. Mqondisi and friends valued integrity over money.

POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

In 2008, Mqondisi Moyo, in unison with Qhubekani Dube, other former ZPRA cadres who had shunned joining ZANU PF following the insincere 1987 Unity Accord, successfully revived ZAPU. The Party was led by the late Dr Dumiso Dabengwa. After ZAPU’s convention at MacDonald Hall in Mzilikazi, Bulawayo, Mqondisi Moyo served the Party's Bulawayo Province in various capacities including being Youth Organizing Secretary, Treasurer, Information and Publicity Secretary, and later became Bulawayo Province ZAPU Youth Chairman.

Mqondisi Moyo was at one time nominated for National Youth Representative Member. He was also earmarked to be National Youth Chairperson. Along the way, he got suspended for pushing Matabeleland matters while he was in a political party that stood for national interests.

MTHWAKAZI YOUTH LEADERS JOINT RESOLUTION

In 2012, youths from different Matabeleland-led political and civic organizations came together to form Mthwakazi Youth Leaders Joint Resolution (MYLJR). It was suggested that Mqondisi Moyo be the newly established organization’s Chairperson. He again, declined the office, proposing Busani Sibindi instead. Sibindi accepted and became MYLJR Chairperson. Moyo was later pressured to be the Information and Publicity Secretary, and he eventually accepted.

Again, significant goals were scored in MYLJR. On 08 January 2013, for example, under the leadership of Moyo, three Shona teachers were sent packing from Makuzeze Primary School in Plumtree. These had, in keeping with the 1979 Shona Grand Plan, caused the transfer of three IsiNdebele speaking teachers from the school.

In the same year, Mqondisi Moyo led a 23 member demonstration against ZESA, the parastatal in charge of electricity in the country, which had employed 520 general workers from Mashonaland to work in Bulawayo, again at the expense of locals. Moyo and others were arrested and briefly detained at Donnington Police station, and eventually transferred to Bulawayo Central CID Law and Order section where they spent two nights. Thereafter, they were transferred to Khami Maximum Prison, spending two more days there. The 23 were each charged with Criminal Nuisance and Hate Language. Moyo and Sibindi were further charged for breaching the Public Order and Security Act (POSA). The two were to report to the nearest Police station once a week, and Moyo reported to Bulawayo Central Police Station. All were released on a $50 bail each.

A few months after the demonstrations against ZESA, Moyo was summoned through a phone call to Plumtree by CID Law and Order officers who also threatened to shoot him because of the Makuzeze issue. In agreement with his lawyer Dumisani Dube and others, Moyo would not go to Plumtree. Instead, other colleagues who had also participated in the Makuzeze issue including Mbonisi Gumpo, Thandolwenkosi Dube, and Mandla Dube went, but were not entertained, with police insisting on wanting Mqondisi Moyo and Busani Sibindi.

ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS NETWORK CHALLENGED

In April 2013 after the arrest of the 23 members for staging a demonstration against ZESA, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Lawyers Network assigned Nosimilo, a Bulawayo based lawyer to represent the 23 demonstrators who had been charged. She managed to secure a bail for them. At the next Court session, Zimrights Lawyers at its Harare Headquarters decided to send David Tinashe Hofisi to Bulawayo to represent the 23, thus sidelining Nosimilo. Since Zimrights Lawyers were donor funded, they hoped for huge financial inflows, considering the case to be of higher profile. Moreover, it was discovered that a lawyer assigned outside Harare was entitled to a US $100 allowance per hour, hence the replacement of Nosimilo, a Ndebele lawyer by Hofisi.

Realizing what was happening, Mqondisi suggested engaging Dumisani Dube from Abameli Lawyers, rather than have Mthwakazi citizens represented by Zimrights Lawyers who were bulldozing their way into the case, the motive being nothing more than a high prospect for financial gain. Efforts by Hofisi and Mutsindikwa the Public Prosecutor, to reverse the decision were in vain because Mqondisi stood his ground. He and colleagues insisted that

Mthwakazi Youth Leaders Joint Resolution could not be represented by Harare lawyers when Mthwakazi problems were created by Harare.

REFUGEE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Upon the return of the four comrades from Plumtree CID Law and Order, a meeting which lasted from 7 pm to well after 11 pm that night, resolved that Moyo and Sibindi find a safe place in South Africa, since their life at home was in danger. Around 12:00 midnight, the two were driven to Gaborone via Matsilotshe boarder post in Plumtree. The two crossed at 6:00 in the morning when the boarder had opened for the day. They proceeded to South Africa by a Sprinter bus, and around 1:00 in the morning they arrived in Johannesburg where, by arrangement, certain men received them. For Mqondisi Moyo, it was his first time to set foot in the Republic of South Africa.

The two were in the care of some Mthwakazi nationals for close to a month, during which time they would visit embassies in Pretoria and United Nations Human Rights Commission offices to share their plight. It was there that, Scholarships for the two were availed to Finland and Ukraine. They declined the offer on the grounds that they had left 21 of their comrades with the ZESA demonstrations case pending. Going for studies overseas would be great betrayal, especially considering that Moyo and Sibindi were leaders of the demonstration.

On the Sunday of 09 June 2013, the two resolved to return home in preparation for the Court session which was to be held in Bulawayo. A request to book a bus for the two to Bulawayo was made to the South African hosts, but a proposal was made that the two be flown back home. Unfortunately, the only plane that was available that afternoon was destined for Harare, not Bulawayo. The South African colleagues feared it would be riskier to land in Harare, but Mqondisi insisted it was safer, since no one would suspect the two to drop off in Harare. At 15:15 pm they left Oliver Tambo International Airport and arrived at Harare airport at 17:05 evening, took a kombi to the CBD, found transport to Bulawayo and around 1200 midnight, they arrived in Bulawayo. At 08:00 am on 10 June the 23 appeared in Court to the surprise of many who did not expect Mqondisi Moyo and his colleague to be home.

TRIAL IN ZIMBABWE

Chrispen Mberewere, the Magistrate, and Mutsvindikwa the Prosecutor, in consultation with Dumisani Dube, the Lawyer agreed to postpone the court hearing to 25 June 2013, and this appeared on the press the following morning. Soon after the Court session on 25 June, more than seven CID Law and Order officers waited for Moyo outside the Courtroom, citing that a warrant of arrest had been issued by Plumtree CID Law and Order in connection with the Makuzeze Primary School matter.

Mqondisi, his lawyer Dube and other members of MYLJR, with the more than seven members of CID headed for Bulawayo Central Police station where a dispute ensued between Plumtree and Bulawayo officers, the latter arguing that Plumtree could not arrest Mqondisi without a written warrant of arrest. Plumtree police, on the other hand, accused their Bulawayo counterparts for being lenient with him. In the end a consensus to arrest Moyo was reached. Meanwhile, Sibindi sought to know the state of affairs from Dube, who advised him to come and be detained along with Moyo so that the two could keep company in the cells. It worked and the two were detained for two days at Bulawayo Central Police station. On the third day, they were collected by two Plumtree CID Law and Order Officers, and on arrival at Plumtree, the police there celebrated that the fugitives had finally been apprehended.

A suggestion was made that they be detained further, but their lawyer Dube argued that it was impossible since the two had already spent 53 hours at Bulawayo Central Police against the law which stipulates a maximum of 48 hours, after which one has to appear in Court. Despite the logic, police insisted that the two be detained, citing that they did not qualify to be remanded out of custody because they had once left the country with a pending legal issue. Their lawyer, however, managed to convince the police to release the two to his custody, citing that Mqondisi was gainfully employed. Indeed he was, because when he went to South Africa, he was on a month' study leave, and his

Accounting examination was due in June. He was at that time, in his third year of employment with the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agritex as Assistant Accountant for Matabeleland North, based at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo.

On the strength of this argument, the police agreed to release the two to the custody of their lawyer, stating clearly that the two would be invited to Court by means of a Court Summons. The ZESA court case lasted until March 2014. During this period, the Makuzeze case was also on going. The charges that were laid against Mqondisi Moyo, Busani Sibindi, two Makuzeze School Ndebele teachers and two Makuzeze community members were inciting public violence at a public place, hating other tribes, and an extra charge of undermining the authority of the President. Mrs. Pasipanodya, the Headmistress of Makuzeze Primary School had lied to the Court that Mqondisi Moyo had likened Shona people with their then ailing and aged Robert Mugabe. Ruvetswa, the magistrate for Plumtree and Public Prosecutor Chinyangarara had also, in the presence of the full house, accused Mqondisi and colleagues of behaving like baboons.

Nevertheless, Dumisani Dube, the Lawyer challenged the legal system by arguing that the case was constitutional, deserving to be transferred from Plumtree Magistrate Court to the Constitutional Court. Eight years have gone by, but the case is still with the latter court.

With regards to the ZESA case, Tredgold Magistrate Court dropped the two charges involving hate language and Criminal Nuisance for all the 23, while finding Mqondisi and Sibindi as leaders, guilty of breaching POSA. The two were fined US$500 each amounting to a total of US$1 000, then equivalent to R10 000. They were further banned for five years from participating in demonstrations that were not cleared by Police. The ban was effected from 31 March 2014 to 28 February 2019.

ZIMBABWE UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE'S ASSOCIATION

Mqondisi Moyo became Deputy President of the Zimbabwe Unemployed People's Association (ZUPA), an organization with Thamsanqa Zhou and Innocent Ndibali as founding President and Secretary General respectively. The organization had been founded in the United Kingdom.

Dr Dumiso Dabengwa met the two who were also ZAPU members when he visited the UK. The three resolved that Dr Dabengwa engage Mqondisi Moyo to persuade him to join ZUPA as Acting President in Zhou's absence. Initially, Moyo did not want the offer because, he told Dabengwa, that would disrupt his fight for Mthwakazi freedom, although Mthwakazi Republic Party had not been formed then. The Black Russian, as Dr Dabengwa was affectionately known, insisted on Mqondisi assuming responsibility as ZUPA Acting President until he accepted. At one time, ZUPA had a membership of 10 000 in Bulawayo alone.

In 2012, Mqondisi voluntarily resigned from ZUPA complaining that its two founding leaders were not in touch with the situation on the ground since they were UK based. They directed activities through the internet, yet the situation required that they be readily available in person. He felt a strong urge to concentrate on Mthwakazi issues.

However, during his tenure as ZUPA Acting President, the organization donated material such as blankets, bed sheets, and cement to Garanyemba clinic in Gwanda District. Some elderly people were assisted with some food handouts.

While still with ZUPA, he led the organization in confronting Trek Petroleum Filling Station management at 14/15th Avenue in Bulawayo, for having employed 29 people from Harare, instead of employing locals. They requested from the facility's White manageress Anne, whose assistant was a Shona guy, to know the criterion they used to employ, and also demanded a list of all the names of their staff. Trek management refused to avail the list. They reported the visit of Mqondisi and his team to the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) at Magnet House in Bulawayo, which advised them to appease ZUPA by employing some workers through it. The following morning, as the team was headed for Garanyemba for donations, Anne called Mqondisi advising him to submit seven CVs of ZUPA members. He assigned Ndodana Moyo who was Coordinator to do it, and all the seven youths were employed without having to undergo the interview process. Trek Petroleum management later revealed to Moyo and his team that they were going to transfer some of the company's workers of Shona origin back to Mashonaland, although no follow up was made on the promise. When the company opened another Service station at Mpophoma along Phumula road, Anne advised Mqondisi Moyo to submit four more names of his youth, and all were, again employed.

Along the way, some elements within ZAPU misinformed Dr Dabengwa that ZUPA had a hidden agenda of unseating him as ZAPU President. The Black Russian did not argue, but convened a meeting of all ZAPU leaders and other ZUPA leaders, Mqondisi included. He asked Mqondisi to present on ZUPA's agenda. Removing from his folder, a ZUPA business card and flyer, he said that he thought ZUPA had deviated from what Zhou and Ndibali had told him about the organization when he met them in the United Kingdom. It was then that it dawned on ZAPU leaders who had lied to Dabengwa that the Party leader knew about ZUPA and was actually behind it. Mqondisi and ZUPA were urged to continue the good work they were doing.

AGRITEX EMPLOYEE

Mqondisi Moyo was formally employed as Assistant Accountant with AGRITEX, Matebeleland North from 02 March 2010 to 31 March 2017. On 18 August 2015, he received a letter from Head Office to the effect that he had been transferred to Bindura, Mashonaland Central Province with effect from 01 September 2015. Realizing that this was on very short notice, he searched for more information in the Statutory Instrument (SI) of 2000, where he was convinced that the transfer had not followed procedure. He noticed, for example, that the instrument provided for the following:

1)	That there should be a three months notice of transfer

2)	That the transfer must not be punitive in nature

3)	That a disturbance allowance should be given one who has been transferred

4)	That some reasons behind the transfer be given

5)	That accommodation be provided to an affected member

Armed with the Statutory Instrument, Moyo challenged the transfer as unprocedural by writing to the parent Ministry of Agriculture, Department of AGRITEX, and also copied to Public Service Commission in its capacity as the employer.

Instead of responding using the Statutory Instrument, the authorities sent a delegation of four directors from Harare to intimidate Moyo at a meeting that was attended by his Matabeleland North head, the Senior Accountant, the Human Resources officer and himself, from the Bulawayo side. The four directors from Harare threatened to have his salary ceased and ultimately discharged of his duties if he failed to report for duty in Bindura by 01 September 2015. Moyo could not be threatened, but demanded that they respond formally to his submission, to which they responded that it was beyond their powers. (He challenged them, did you come all the way from Harare to threaten me and infringe on his rights)

At the end of September, Head office called saying that they were reviewing Moyo' transfer, giving him the required three months notice to transfer. Other provisions on the Instrument were not observed, though. Moyo applied for days off before 19 November and went to South Africa only to return on 06 December, and on 08 December he was served with a letter from Harare requiring him to report for duty at Bindura, with threats to terminate his salary should he not comply. He remained calm, but even end of December his salary came through.

In 2016, when Mqondisi Moyo was Acting Accountant, and during Zimbabwe International Tradefair (ZITF) preparations, corruption by auditors at Head Office was uncovered. A budget of US$30 000 forMatabeland North and Matabeland South provinces AGRITEX department had been submitted. F Chibaro, Head Office Accountant informed Moyo that $15 000 was going to be released, but it never materialized despite the fact that all Ministry departments received their allocations. Auditors at Mhlahlandlela enquired from Mqondisi Moyo if AGRITEX had received its allocation too. He responded that other departments had acknowledged receipt of monies, but there was nothing for AGRITEX. The Mhlahlandlela auditors engaged their Head office counterparts who promised to avail the funds, though only usd $6 000 came through, creating a deficit of usd $9000. (The deficit of $9000 usd represented the amount converted to allowances for 20 Head office staff members.

It emerged that Head Office  personnel in Harare were in the habit of diverting funds for Trade Fair to their allowances for coming down to Bulawayo, each of the about 20 members getting a daily allowance of US$95 translating to US$475 for the 5 days  they will be at the Trade Fair. Mqondisi Moyo confronted the auditors citing unfairness by senior staff members at Head Office to allocate themselves that much at the expense of Extension Workers who worked hard to enable farmers to exhibit at the annual ZITF. He urged management in Harare to consider Extension staff that would come with the farmers from such districts as Binga, Hwange, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Nkayi, Inyathi, Umguza, Beitbtidge, Plumtree, Umzingwane, Gwanda, and Matobo. These, he said deserved a US$95 daily allowance, and not staff from Head Office who contributed no value to the exhibitions. This disturbed Head Office management who connived with CIOs to have him transferred. In all this, Moyo took advantage of his position as ZAPTA Chairperson for Matabeleland North.

It emerged late that Mqondisi Moyo's transfer was at the instigation of the CIO who felt threatened by Moyo's popularity in Bulawayo and Matabeleland, as well as his political influence on Matebeleland people which was perceived to be a threat to government. Bindura had been chosen for its known non tolerance to opposition politics, and hoped that Mqondisi would be eliminated there. Mashonaland Central in which is Bindura, is the province from which hailed notorious ZANU PF political commissars Elliot Manyika, Border Gezi, Moven Mahachi who all died on mysterious road accidents. Saviour Kasukuwere who was to be the next Commissar also came from there.

On 16 January 2016, Mqondisi applied for two weeks off duty in order to attend the Sandlwana Battle Commemorations in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa where he had been invited. The commemorations, at which Isilo King Zwelithini would be guest speaker, had been scheduled for 23 January 2016. The Battle of Sandlwana in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa and that of Gadade in ( Matebeleland/Mthwakazi), Zimbabwe are major among the recorded battles in Africa in which Ndebele under King Lobhengula resisted the colonization of Mthwakazi, whereas Mashonaland had already submitted in 1890 without any resistance.

The Mthwakazi delegation to South Africa comprised of Mqondisi himself, uBaba uJonathan

Maphenduka, author of Rule by Conquest, uBaba uDavid Mhabhinyana Ngwenya, president of International Traditional Healers Association, Siphatho Ncube of Umhlahlo Wesizwe, Wayne Mhlanga from MLF. These left Bulawayo on 20 January 2016, and joined the late Albert Gumede, General Fidelis

Nandinandi Ncube who came from Botswana, the then MLF president, Prudence J.Z Mpofu, Mqondisi Ndebele Culturalist and a few others in SA. The idea was to ensure representation from as many Mthwakazi groups as possible.

Over 20 000 people attended the commemorations among them Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa then, and King Zwelithini, the host. A lot was learnt about how battles between blacks and whites were fought.

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

In the month end of January, Mqondisi returned from South Africa only to find his salary ceased. His immediate boss and the Human Resources officer had no idea about the development, but the writing was on the wall. He received a letter the following month in response to his enquiries, explaining that the salary had been ceased because of his refusal to be transferred to Bindura. Salary activation would be effected if only he went to work in Bindura. Instantly, Mqondisi determined it in himself to forfeit his employment by an oppressive system, and commit himself to fighting for the self determination of Mthwakazi.

The charges that were leveled against Moyo were stated as, first his refusal to be transferred to Bindura, Mashonaland Central. Second, and rose by Harare Head office, was Moyo’s participation in the 2013 Parliamentary elections as the AKE representative in Entumbane- Emakhandeni Constituency. When Moyo participated in those elections, he had been cleared by the Department of AGRITEX Matebeleland North and Public Service Commission Matebeleland North. This was after provision had been made in the new Constitution for civil servants to contest in an election on behalf of a political party of their choice. A supporting Gazette Volume by the Public Service Commission was issued to the effect that  members had a right to contest in elections on condition they terminated their employment contract three months before the elections, and would seek reinstatement with Public Service if they so wished. Mqondisi Moyo had complied with the requirements, consulting with both AGRITEX Matebeleland North and Public Service commission Matebeleland North Provincial offices based at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex.

He, however, engaged his lawyers, and one day a delegation of four including one lady who was a Human Resources Officer at Head Office was sent from Harare. He advised his lawyer Prince Bhutshe Dube to challenge the involvement of the woman in the proceedings because she was an interested party; she was the one who had written his forced transfer letter. It succeeded and the delegation returned to Harare empty handed. Harare tried on more than three occasions to convene a hearing, but each time he would avoid it because all panelists were Shonas from Harare whom he could not allow to deliberate on his case. It emerged later that, if he had agreed to go to Bindura, his stance against the influx of Shona people into Matabeleland to grab jobs meant for Mthwakazi people would be challenged, because he would have been inconsistent himself. The whole idea was just a trap.

A year later, Head office instructed Moyo’s immediate boss to take office keys from him. Mqondisi warned his boss against allowing Harare people to create animosity between them, and demanded that Head office put their communication in writing. They later instructed that he be allowed in office, without any duties assigned to him though. He would clock in and out, and that meant he was at work. It also happened that there was an audit, and he was in charge of the office since his boss had been assigned elsewhere. Again, this meant he was on duty.

In December 2016, Moyo submitted a resignation letter with a three months notice as per requirement. According to the letter, his last day on duty was 31 March 2017. On 28 March, a delegation was sent from Harare for a hearing, but Moyo did not attend arguing he could not do so when he was left with only three days to resign. A verdict that he had been discharged was pronounced on 30 March, just a day before his resignation. The penalty was that he could not get benefits, despite having served the Ministry for seven years. Legally, the ruling was flawed, with lawyers assuring him that he was certain to win the case. However, Mqondisi decided not to pursue the case because the benefits would turn out to be useless due to the poor value of the local currency. Mqondisi Moyo spent 17 months without a salary from January 2016 to March 31 2017.

FRIENDS OF ZAPU TRUST

Mqondisi Moyo became involved with Friends of ZAPU Trust as a founder member, an organization which was to be apolitical, but a nongovernmental establishment that would assist ZAPU to grow, and to source donations for the vulnerable.

The Trust was successfully registered with the help of Sindiso Shepherd Mazibisa, a lawyer and partner at Cheda and Partners Law firm. Zakhele Ndebele, Petros Sibanda, Mbonisi Gumpo, and Sithabiso Masina constituted the Board of Directors, while Mqondisi Moyo and Lazarus Ray Ncube assumed the role of advisors outside the Board. The Trust was introduced to Dr Dabengwa for his blessings.

Under the Trust, some meetings were held, including one at Siyezi in Lower Gwelo where over 300 people attended. Complaints about the influx of Shona people who had taken over ARDA and Jena Mine, leaving youthful Ndebele unemployed were raised by Siyezi community.

The Friends of ZAPU Trust was also at one time, invited to an ex ZPRA and Umkhonto WeSizwe meeting in South Africa. Retired Colonel Lazarus Ray Ncube, Zakhele Ndebele, Petros Sibanda, all being ex ZPRA freedom fighters, Mbonisi Gumpo, and Sithabiso Masina went down to South Africa for the meeting. Due to work related commitments, Mqondisi Moyo could not be part of the delegation. The visit strengthened relations between ZPRA and MK, as Umkhonto weSizwe is known.

ZIMBABWE AGRICULTURAL PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION (ZAPTA)

Between 2013 and 2017, Mqondisi Moyo was chairperson of ZAPTA for Matabeleland North Province. ZAPTA represented all government departments of the Agriculture, Lands and Rural Resettlement

Ministry. The departments involved included: AGRITEX, Veterinary Services, Livestock, Irrigation and Mechanization, and Lands. ZAPTA represented employees as an affiliate of the Apex Council, a collective of civil servants in the bargaining process.

The Executive Committee that Moyo led had seven districts under Matabeleland North namely Binga, Hwange, Lupane, Nkayi, Inyathi, Umguza, and Tsholotsho. Its Matabeleland North membership at one time stood at 500 employees. A suggestion was made that Mqondisi Moyo be elevated to national level. He declined, citing that his interests lay in Matabeleland and Midlands, since he did not subscribe to the ideology of Zimbabwe.

While at ZAPTA, Mqondisi Moyo proved himself a distinguished representative of the people. At one of the national meetings in Harare, a proposal was presented to purchase cell phones for all 33 National Council members, only five of which were Ndebele, as part of their benefits. The proposal was accepted by almost a full house. Driven by people's interests, rather than by self interests, Moyo shot down the proposal, arguing the Council was not there to enjoy the luxuries of the world at the expense of the people it represented. He argued cell phones could be bought from allowances that were paid out to members. One Shona attendee retorted that Moyo's attitude would make him die poor, adding that they were at ZAPTA to spend money. Mqondisi stood his ground. This prompted one delegate from Masvingo to remark that Moyo's place was in politics, and not in ZAPTA. Only leaders from Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South knew that Mqondisi was already into politics, but none dared divulge the matter.

It emerged, however, that after Moyo had left the Ministry, National Council members bought themselves cell phones. Moreover, ZAPTA's tradition of giving out $200 to a member who resigned/ retired, or died was ignored at Moyo's resignation. Furthermore, no legal representation was availed to Mqondisi by ZAPTA when he wrestled employment injustice against him by the Harare administration, all because of his stance on the need for justice in Mthwakazi.

POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ARRESTS AND DETENTIONS

Mqondisi Moyo has been arrested and detained on more than 17 occasions.

1)	Detained and cautioned 6 times at Bulawayo Central CID Law and Order section since 2006

2)	Detained for 9 days at Grey Prison in Bulawayo in August 2010

3)	Arrested at Elangeni Training Centre with Ibhetshu LikaZulu members and further detained at Bulawayo Central Police station in April 2010.

He, and other Ibhetshu LikaZulu members had demonstrated against Sekai Hove Holland, then CoMinister with Moses Mzila Ndlovu of the then Mutambara led MDC, John Landa Nkomo of ZANU PF, who was attending a National Healing outreach programmed meeting at Elangeni. Ibhetshu LikaZulu felt she could not be part of the meeting in Bulawayo because of a derogatory statement she had uttered in Mozambique, that Ndebeles were children of cattle rustlers who also took beautiful Shona women by force. MDC members who were present including Helen Zirekwi, who called herself Tsepiso Mpofu so that she fits in Mthwakazi, had advised ZRP to arrest the demonstrators. Her leader Morgan Tsvangirai never reprimanded her for her reckless mind and speech, though.

4)	Detained briefly at Donnington Police Station on 08 April 2013, and later transferred to Bulawayo Central CID Law and Order, with 22 others for protesting against employment malpractices at ZESA.

5) Summoned and cautioned at Bulawayo Central CID Law and Order for demonstrating against labor importation from Mashonaland by TM Hyper.

6)	Detained on 25 June 2013 for two and a half days by Bulawayo Central CID Law and Order on instructions of Plumtree CID, for having forcefully gotten rid of Shona teachers at Makuzeze Primary School in Plumtree on 08 January 2013.

7)	Detained for seven hours at Plumtree CID Law and Order on 28 June 2013, for the same Makuzeze Primary School Shona teachers case.

8)	Detained at Khami Maximum Prison on 10 April 2013, for protests against ZESA’s employment of Shona only people.

9)	Detained at Khami Prison in March 2014 with Busani Sibindi for having led demonstrations against

ZESA. They were charged with contravening POSA

10)	Arrested with 10 other MRP officials at Mlamuli Secondary School sports field on 14 December 2016, for participating in the celebration of the acquittal of four men who had been arrested and detained for nine days for having sent away Millet Bonyongwe, Headmistress of Mlamuli Secondary School in Matabeleland North.

11)	Detained for two days from 14 December 2016 at Jotsholo Police Station for the Mlamuli Secondary School case.

12)	Transferred to Lupane Police Station for further interrogation on 15 December 2016, and detained in isolated cells over night. The other 10 comrades remained at Jotsholo Police camp because it was said that they were innocent.

13)	Summoned by Bulawayo Central CID Law and Order on 23 January 2020 on accusations of having been with MRP members who are said to have distributed Party literature at a public place with potential to incite public violence. The said public place is Barbourfields Stadium, where Mqondisi Moyo had gone to watch a match between Highlanders and Manica Diamonds.

PENDING COURT CASES

1)	Makuzeze Primary School case of 2013 still at the Constitutional Court for close to eight years at the time of writing.

2)	Mlamuli Community case is with the High Court of Bulawayo since 2017.

3)	The Barbourfields case of 24 November 2019, for which he was summoned on 23 January 2020. He is required to release names of his Party members who distributed the said literature.

UNITING MTHWAKAZI POLITICAL AND CIVIC FORMATIONS

It’s now 15years Mqondisi has been engaged in battles that sought the betterment of the lives of Mthwakazi people through participation in the aforementioned organizations since 2006.

Just before the 2013 elections, the Mthwakazi Youth Leaders Joint Resolution, an organization in which Mqondisi was leader, facilitated negotiations between ZAPU led by Cde Dabengwa then, and MDC, then led by Professor Welshman Ncube. The goal had been to thicken political voice in Mthwakazi, and as such political parties in the region had to form a coalition rather than compete against each other. This would help shut the doors against ZANU PF and the Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC, both being Harare based parties. The initiative was not welcome, although Dabengwa commended it.

MYLJR then engaged minority political groupings from Mthwakazi, like PUMA led by Bancinyane

Ndiweni, Mthwakazi National Party, and MYLJR itself, to provide candidates for both Parliamentary and

Local Government 2013 elections. A neutral name was sought, and Mqondisi brought forward 'Alliance Khumbula Ekhaya' (AKE). The message on the name was that Mthwakazi People should shun Shona political parties and embrace their own, home grown political and civic organizations. The name was accepted. The preparation period was, however, short -only 4months and the coalition had no resources. Mqondisi himself contested in Entumbane- Emakhandeni Constituency under AKE. Just like AKE, ZAPU and the Ncube led MDC performed dismally in those elections.

Another effort by Mqondisi to bring together Mthwakazi groups was on 10 October 2015 when he and leaders of his party, Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) participated at the all stakeholder's conference at Chitawa Lodge in Botswana. It was marred by mistrust, and MLF pressured all attending organizations to sign what they termed the Chitawa Declaration, which would declare that Mthwakazi had withdrawn from Zimbabwe. Mqondisi Moyo challenged the idea saying he could not sign a Declaration led by people who were based outside the country and, therefore, out of touch with reality. He even quizzed "Declaration then What"? Upon return home, some of the Chitawa delegates were briefly arrested at Plumtree boarder for no clear cause. It emerged that Zimbabwean State Security agents had planted their men within the delegates. A week later, Moyo was summoned by CIOs to be interrogated on the Chitawa Conference, but he refused to meet them, arguing he had not been to Chitawa.

Among delegates at the Chitawa Conference were: General Fidelis Nandinandi Ncube then President of

Mthwakazi Liberation Front ( MLF), Churchill Guduza then Deputy President of MLF, the late David

Magagula then MLF Spokesman (may his dear soul rest in eternity), Albert Gumede then Mthwakazi

Chief in South Africa, (may his dear soul rest in eternity), David Mhabhinyana Ngwenya, President of

International Traditional Healers of Association, Jonathan Maphenduka historian and author of "Rule by Conquest", Prudence J .Z Mpofu then with MLF, Mqondisi Ndebele Culturalist, Collen Dumani Mlalazi from Umhlahlo Wesizwe SikaMthwakazi, and many more.

Another effort to form a coalition of Mthwakazi political and civic organisations sought to bring together the following: Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP), Progressive Alliance of Mthwakazi Unions (PAMU), Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF), a splinter group from the other MLF, Concerned Matabeleland Youths (CMY) also based in South Africa, and Vuka Mthwakazi, South African based.

A series of meetings resulted in the compilation of a Memorandum of Association working document that would bind the organizations together. A collective name was sought and Mqondisi Moyo suggested 'Alliance Mosi-OA- Tunya (AMOT). The name was adopted since it embraced all tribes involved, from Limpopo to Zambezi (Mosi -OA- Tunya).

The memorandum did not work because the four South African based groups felt they could not, like MRP participate in Zimbabwean elections. MRP strongly believed that participating in elections was a mass mobilization strategy that would see the Party gaining fame and popularity. The other organizations were urged to be visible to the international community wherever they were. Of all the groups, only MRP, guided by a spirit to compliment, rather than compete each other, remains functional to date.

Moreover, just before 2018 elections, some retired elders invited ZAPU, MRP; Thokozani Khuphe- led MDC, ANSA led by Moses Mzila, and UMD of Lovemore Moyo, former Speaker of Parliament. The objective was to unite the five political parties in order to defend Matabeleland and Midlands political space. Unbelievably, ZAPU and Khuphe led MDC rejected the proposal, stating they could not be reduced to regional or tribal coalitions. ZAPU ended up working with the MDC Alliance, though.

Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP)

The party that Mqondisi Moyo is leader has featured in the article on several occasions. Its formation in January 2014 was a direct result of failed efforts at finding a significant political grouping which was relevant to the situation Mthwakazi people are deliberately subjected to.

There had been an agreement that when MYLJR reached resolution number 100, a pro Mthwakazi political party had to be formed. Having been disappointed by the elders, Mqondisi Moyo approached Mbonisi Gumpo, his long time colleague from ZAPU with the idea of fulfilling a dream of setting up an uncompromised Mthwakazi political party.

Wide consultations began, including with people like Zakhele Ndebele who was to become MRP

National Chairperson, and Sithabiso Masina, who would become Party Vice President. A search for Party President began, and Mqondisi proposed Moses Mzila Ndlovu, former Minister in charge of the Organ for National Healing, and ZPRA cadre. Mzila declined the offer saying that he was still committed to the Welshman Ncube led MDC.

Lazarus Ray Ncube (May his soul rest in peace), a Retired Colonel and former ZPRA freedom fighter who, for 32 years had served the United Nations in its Peace Keeping missions, was approached. He too refused, being influenced by the Zimbabwean nationalist ideology which he embraced. Mqondisi further proposed Pastor Dumiso Matshazi, a man who helped with most of the Party’s critical documents. Pastor Matshazi, at a meeting held at Centenary Park urged Mqondisi Moyo to desist from proposing names for party presidency. He insisted that he was ageing, and therefore, Mqondisi himself was to assume the leadership role as he had proved his capability in many instances.

More than five times, Mqondisi rejected the Party leadership role, arguing there was need to protect his job as a civil servant. He also told the gathering that leadership needed dedication and selflessness, attributes he thought he lacked himself. However, Pastor Matshazi and others insisted that he lead the Party, and pledged their support. Finally, Mqondisi accepted the challenge, and on 11 January 2014, Mthwakazi Republic Party was officially launched at the Presbyterian Church in Bulawayo.

Mthwakazi Residents Association (MRA)

Mqondisi Moyo recently founded Mthwakazi Residents Association and is the patron. The Association has been registered under the Deed of Trust on the 29th of September 2020. The Vision of Mthwakazi Residents Association is to have Mthwakazi people all over its territories namely Matebeleland North, Matebeleland South, Midlands and Bulawayo determining their fate.

Vision

Driven by the many painful circumstances that Mthwakazi people have gone through, and a belief in the legacy that Mthwakazi Kings and Joshua Nkomo left behind, and not wanting future generations to spit on his grave as on that of a traitor, Mqondisi Moyo embraced the struggle for the self determination and independence of Mthwakazi which he believes, is achievable in our lifetime.

Long Live Mthwakazi Revolution Long Live Mthwakazi Self Determination Long Live Mthwakazi Independence.