DOCSLIB.ORG

The Secession of States As a Strategy for Resolving Intra- State Ethnic and Religious Conflicts in Post-Colonial Africa: the Case of South Sudan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Secession of States As a Strategy for Resolving Intra- State Ethnic and Religious Conflicts in Post-Colonial Africa: the Case of South Sudan The Secession of States as a Strategy for Resolving Intra- State Ethnic and Religious Conflicts in Post-Colonial Africa: The Case of South Sudan CLAYTON HAZVINEI VHUMBUNU 214580483 Supervisor: Dr Rudigi Rukema Joseph 2017 A Thesis Submitted to the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban; South Africa in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Relations PLAGIARISM DECLARATION I, Clayton Hazvinei Vhumbunu declare that: 1. The research reported in this thesis, except where otherwise indicated, is my original work and does not involve plagiarism or collusion. I know plagiarism is wrong and contravenes Rule 9 (e) (i) (ff) of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Student Disciplinary Rules Handbook (2004). 2. This thesis has not been submitted for any degree or examination at any other university. 3. This thesis does not contain other persons’ data, pictures, graphs or other information, unless specifically acknowledged as being sourced from other persons. 4. This thesis does not contain other persons’ writings, unless specifically acknowledged as being sourced from other researchers. Where other written sources have been quoted, then: (a) their words have been re-written but the general information attributed to them has been referenced; (b) where their exact words have been used, their writing has been placed inside quotations marks and referenced. In all instances, a recognized convention for citation and referencing has been accurately used. 5. Where I have reproduced a publication of which I am an author, co- author or editor, I have indicated in detail which part of the publication was actually written by myself alone and have fully referenced such publications. 6. This thesis does not contain text, graphics or tables copied and pasted from the internet, unless specifically acknowledged, and the sources being detailed in the dissertation and in the references sections. ____ _________ ____24 May 2017___________ Signature of Student Date As the candidate’s Supervisor, I certify the above statement/declaration and have approved this thesis for submission _______________________ _____24 May 2017_____________ Signature of Supervisor Date i DEDICATION I dedicate this study to my family, my parents and the Lord Almighty. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The financial assistance of the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences -Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (NIHSS-CODESRIA) towards this research through the African Pathways Scholarship Programme, is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at are those of the author and are not necessarily to be attributed to the NIHSS-CODESRIA. I am also grateful for the NIHSS-CODESRIA academic mentorship services extended to me through several capacity building workshops and regional doctoral workshops mostly at UKZN Howard College Campus in Durban, together with multitudinous doctoral writing-up retreats and national doctoral conferences held in Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa. The institute’s support towards “ensuring excellence, integrity and dynamism of the Humanities and Social Sciences” in Africa is very encouraging and highly commendable. The continuous engagements and interactions with fellow PhD candidates and highly distinguished scholars from across Africa through the various African Pathways Scholarship Programme platforms facilitated by NIHSS - CODESRIA assisted me reflect on the past, present and future of Africa, and the enriched my pursuit of African- centred and oriented solutions and interventions to continental challenges within the realm of socio -economic and political development. I acknowledge the moral support of my family, my parents, and all my brothers. My wife Charity Mawire was supportive from the beginning to the end. I further acknowledge, with so much appreciation and gratitude, the unwavering support and guidance of my supervisor, Dr Rudigi Rukema Joseph. The inspiration and motivation kept me working hard and on course. I am very grateful. I am also indebted to Dr Alison Jones from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Pietermaritzburg Campus, who worked with me during the nascent stages of my PhD proposal development. Your input and advice is very much appreciated. To my friend, Dr Blessing Simura, I value and cherish your encouragement, inspiration and motivation. You played a very influential role, I am indebted to you. Be blessed. I am also grateful to friends and brothers Tigere Muringa and James Ndlovu for their supportive role. Kudzaishe Marecha and mukoma Felix Makonye, and many other friends and colleagues, I thank you for the encouragement and motivation. The Discipline of Public Governance at Westville Campus within the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), where I Lectured and provided Post-Graduate Assistance/Consultancy & supervision services during my studies, assisted in building my capacity in the process and broadening the scope of my research focus . I thank the Academic Leader - Dr Fayth Ruffin – and all the academics in the Discipline for their support, encouragement and inspiration. iii ABSTRACT The secession of South Sudan from Sudan in 2011, after a protracted and seemingly intractable conflict which started in 1955 on the eve of the county’s independence from colonial rule; presents a pertinent question on whether secession should be considered as a viable and sustainable strategy for resolving conflicts with ethnic and religious dimensions. This comes against a background of several secessionists movements in Africa, as in Algeria (State of Kabyle), Angola (Republic of Cabinda), Cameroon (Democratic Republic of Bakassi), Comoros (Anjouan), Ethiopia (State of Oromia and Ogaden), Mali (Azawad), Nigeria (State of Biafra), Senegal (Casamance Republic), Somalia (Republic of Somalia-Somaliland), Tanzania (Zanzibar), and Zambia (Barotseland), among others. These are by grievances such as marginalization, discrimination, oppression and different forms of injustices. Five years after secession, the conflicts in South Sudan and Sudan are still raging on and even intensifying, despite commendable regional and international mediation efforts through the Inter- Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union (AU). Using the 2011 secession of South Sudan as case study, this study sought to examine the extent to which secession can be considered as a strategy to sustainably resolve intra-ethnic and religious conflicts in post-colonial African states. Methodologically, the study adopted a mixed methods research design which combines both qualitative and quantitative research methods, relying on interviews with experts, academics and researchers based in Zimbabwe as well as questionnaires administered to officials working in peacebuilding, humanitarian, media and development agencies in South Sudan. It used the Protracted Social Conflict Theory, Realist Conflict Theory and Conflict Transformation Theory as theoretical framework of analysis. The findings of the study revealed that whilst South Sudanese secession was a legal success as evidenced by the legitimate recognition and acceptance of the state as a member of the AU and the UN, there was no evidence of success of secession in South Sudan in as far as the securing of lasting peace and stability is concerned as there is continued inter-communal violence, inter- ethnic fights, unresolved border demarcation issues with the Republic of Sudan, and border disputes in Abyei, Blue Nile and South Kordofan states in post-secession South Sudan. The study concludes that secession cannot be regarded as a sustainable and viable strategy to resolve intra-state ethnic and religious conflicts as it usually over-simplify a conflict along ethnic, religious and regional identity lines thereby failing to address the underlying substantive causes of secessionist conflicts. The study further argues that at regional and continental level, the secession of states may threaten African unity and integration. However, in extreme cases where secession maybe unavoidable due to self-determination pressures, the study suggests that secession should be supported by effective transitional mechanisms accompanied by conflict transformation interventions aimed at transforming the power structures, institutions, systems, triggers of violence, attitudes of conflict actors, and transforming mindset of the elite/leadership so as to secure sustainable peace and stability. In order to sustainably resolve seemingly intractable protracted intra-state ethnic and religious conflicts in post-colonial African states, the study highly recommends that multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies should consider ‘non-secession’ alternatives such as Federalism, Consociational Democracy, Devolution, and Confederation which embrace and uphold the sacrosanct values and principles of democracy, diversity, plurality, tolerance, equal access to opportunities and fair distribution of national resources so as to promote national integration and social cohesion. The nature, form, substance and structure of these national governance frameworks should be defined and determined by national contexts and circumstances. Key Words: secession, ethnic conflicts, religious conflicts, South Sudan iv CONTENTS PLAGIARISM DECLARATION........................................................................................................................................... i DEDICATION .........................................................................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download Download
    ARTICLE A LOOK AT THE REASONS BEHIND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MOVEMENTS AIMED AT RESUSCITATING THE NDEBELE/MTHWAKAZI KINGDOM IN POST-COLONIAL ZIMBABWE Njabulo B. Khumalo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6474-408X National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe [email protected] ABSTRACT The resuscitation of the Ndebele kingdom has been a topical issue in Zimbabwe. The Ndebele kingdom, which was established by king Mzilikazi ka MaShobana was destroyed by white settlers during the reign of his son Lobengula. The years following the colonisation of Zimbabwe saw a number of efforts being made to liberate the country. The liberation struggle came to an end in 1980 when Zimbabwe, a country which came to being as a result of nationalists was liberated and the black majority assumed power. However, there have been growing calls for the resuscitation of the Ndebele kingdom, which in some circles mean breaking away from Zimbabwe. One wonders what the reasons behind the call for the resuscitation of the Ndebele kingdom were: Is this move fuelled by poor service delivery in Zimbabwe? Are the Ndebele people unhappy with the current state of affairs in Zimbabwe? Is this another revolution waiting to happen? This study sought to establish the reasons behind calls to resuscitate the Ndebele kingdom in Zimbabwe. A qualitative research methodology was employed and interviews held with one of the heirs to the Ndebele throne, as well as the leader of one of the movements advocating for the resuscitation of the Ndebele or Mthwakazi kingdom. Keywords: kingdom; Lobengula; Mzilikazi; Ndebele; resuscitation; Zimbabwe INTRODUCTION Zimbabwe is a country in southern Africa, which attained its independence in 1980, a period that was followed by a genocide.
    [Show full text]
  • Collaboration and Conflict in Transnationally-Dispersed
    Syracuse University SURFACE Dissertations - ALL SURFACE December 2017 Collaboration and Conflict in rT ansnationally-Dispersed Zimbabwean Families William John Suk Syracuse University Follow this and additional works at: https://surface.syr.edu/etd Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Suk, William John, "Collaboration and Conflict in rT ansnationally-Dispersed Zimbabwean Families" (2017). Dissertations - ALL. 822. https://surface.syr.edu/etd/822 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the SURFACE at SURFACE. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations - ALL by an authorized administrator of SURFACE. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abstract Approximately one quarter of Zimbabwean adults left their country of birth during the past twenty years. These sojourners are increasingly dispersed as tightening immigration regimes in preferred destinations and fluctuating global opportunities lead them to places with fewer historical links to Zimbabwe. This dispersive process fractures many families between multiple international locations. Nevertheless, the idea of family remains centrally important to diasporans, who work with relatives around the world to care for children and elders, to acquire important documents like passports, and to prepare for an eventual return home. Following from performative and relational theorizations of kinship, this dissertation argues that collaborative projects are crucibles in which families are forged and reconfigured. This exploration of how dispersion shapes family life deploys three analytical lenses: history, space and technology. Contemporary journeys are historically linked to a century of dispossession and labor-migration in Southern Africa. Colonial governments used onerous “bioinformational regimes” to subjugate Africans and profit from their labor.
    [Show full text]
  • Governance, Leadership and the Rise of African Nationalism in Sub-Saharan Africa: an Ethical Critical Study
    Governance, Leadership and the Rise of African Nationalism in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Ethical Critical Study By C.C. Mushohwe (DEL, DPA, MPLG, MSc-1R, MPA, MBA) Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment of the Academic Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy In the Subject of Ethics at the School of Religion Philosophy and Classics, College of Humanities University of KwaZulu–Natal Pietermaritzburg Supervisor Prof Munyaradzi Felix Murove November 2018 DECLARATION I, Christopher Chindoti Mushohwe declare that, i. The research reported in this thesis, excerpt where otherwise indicated, is my original work. ii. The thesis has not been submitted for any degree or examination at any other university. iii. This thesis does not contain other persons’ data, pictures, graphs or other information, unless specifically acknowledged as being sourced from other persons. iv. This thesis does not contain other persons’ writings unless specifically acknowledged as being sourced from other researchers. Where other written sources have been quoted, (a) Their words have been re-written but the general information attributed to them has been referenced; (b) Where exact words have been used, their writing has been placed inside quotation marks and referenced. v. This thesis does not contain text, graphics or tables copied and pasted from the internet unless specifically acknowledged and the source being detailed in the thesis and in the reference sections. Candidate: Christopher Chindoti Mushohwe Signed:………………………………………Date:…………………………. Supervisor: Prof M F Murove Signed:………………………………………Date:……………………………. i DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my beloved wife and children for the support during the course of this study. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS An intellectual discourse of this extent could not come to fruition without assistance and motivation from other people and institutions.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Ways of Including Human Rights Narratives of Refugees In
    Exploring Ways of Including Human Rights Narratives of Refugees in Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding Processes Through Storytelling: Narratives from Dukwi Refugee Camp by Mavis N. Matenge A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Peace and Conflict Studies University of Manitoba Winnipeg Copyright © 2013 by Mavis N. Matenge Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES, IMAGES AND MAPS………….…………………………………………………….....v ACRONYMS…………………………………………………………………………………………………vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………………………….....vii DEDICATION………………………………………………………………………………………………viii ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………………..........ix CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………….........1 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………….........1 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE………………………………………………………………………………...5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS……………………………………………………………………………..…….5 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY………………………………………………………………………..........6 STUDY LIMITATIONS……………………………………………………………………………………...8 CHAPTERS OVERVIEW………………………………………………………………………………........9 CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………………………10 CHAPTER 2 – CONTEXT - VIOLENT CONFLICTS, TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSIONS AND REFUGEE MOVEMENTS……………………………………………………..11 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………...11 SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA’S POST-COLONIAL VIOLENT CONFLICTS…………………………........12 A continent at war with itself…………………………………………………….....................................12 AFRICA’S TRUTH
    [Show full text]
  • Rethinking Chimurenga and Gukurahundi in Zimbabwe: a Critique of Partisan National History Sabelo J
    Rethinking Chimurenga and Gukurahundi in Zimbabwe: A Critique of Partisan National History Sabelo J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni Abstract: This article examines how the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) sought to inscribe a nationalist monologic history in Zimbabwe in order prop up its claim to be the progenitor and guardian of the postcolonial nation. Since its formation in 1963, it has worked tirelessly to claim to be the only authentic force with a sacred historic mission to deliver the colonized people from settler colonial rule. To achieve this objective, ZANU-PF has deployed the ideol- ogy of chimurenga in combination with the strategy of gukurahundi as well as a poli- tics of memorialization to install a particular nationalist historical monologue of the nation. After attaining power in 1980, it proceeded to claim ownership of the birth of the nation. While the ideology of chimurenga situates the birth of the nation within a series of nationalist revolutions dating back to the primary resistance of the 1890s, the strategy of gukurahundi entails violent and physical elimination of enemies and opponents. But this hegemonic drive has always encountered an array of problems, including lack of internal unity in ZANU-PF itself, counternarra- tives deriving from political formations like the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU); labor movements; and critical voices from the Matebeleland region, which fell victim to gukurahundi strategy in the 1980s. With the formation of the Move- ment for Democratic Change (MDC) in 1999, which soon deployed democracy and human rights discourse to critique the ideology of chimurenga and the strategy of gukurahundi, ZANU-PF hegemony became extremely shaky and it eventually agreed to share power with the MDC in February 2009.
    [Show full text]
  • Mthwakazi Liberation Front
    1 MTHWAKAZI LIBERATION FRONT IN PURSUIT OF OUR IDEALS,WE SUBMIT: ROBERT GABRIEL MUGABE’S CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’S WILFUL BLINDNESS TO GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING COMMITTED AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF MATEBELELAND (MTHWAKAZI) 1980-2017 A CLEAR CASE FOR THE RESTORATION OF MTHWAKAZI KINGDOM Compiled by MTHWAKAZI LIBERATION FRONT (MLF) 06 September 2017 CONTACTS CHRISPEN NYONI INFORMATION & PUBLICITY EMAIL: [email protected] 0027 78 730 7538/0027 62 627 3739 (MTHWAKAZI LIBERATION FRONT (MLF) STANDS, FOR ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE OF MTHWAKAZI AND RESTORATION OF HER INDEPENDENCE THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO COLONISATION) 2 ROBERT GABRIEL MUGABE’S CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY: THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’S WILFUL BLINDNESS TO GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING COMMITTED AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF MATEBELELAND (MTHWAKAZI) 1980-2017 A CLEAR CASE FOR THE RESTORATION OF MTHWAKAZI KINGDOM Compiled by MTHWAKAZI LIBERATION FRONT (MLF) 06 September 2017 Abstract This document chronicles the suffering compounded by the despicable genocide and ethnic cleansing inflicted on the people of Matabeleland (Mthwakazi) during the past one hundred and twenty-four (124) years by both the British establishment and its proxy, the ZANU-PF regime of Robert Gabriel Mugabe. It gives a fundamental justification as to why the people of Matabeleland (Mthwakazi) must be free to chart their own destiny, free from the tyranny of British colonialism and its proxy, Mugabe’s regime in present-day Zimbabwe. It is the intention of this document to lay bare all of the facts by way of a summative outline regarding the genocide and ethnic cleansing that was not only inflicted and imposed through the annexation of the Kingdom of Mthwakazi (Matabeleland) - but also which has been continued and sustained by Robert Gabriel Mugabe’s regime during the past thirty-seven (37) years.
    [Show full text]
  • Tracking Conflict Worldwide
    4/2/2021 CrisisWatch Print | Crisis Group CRISISWATCH Tracking Conflict Worldwide CrisisWatch is our global conict tracker, a tool designed to help decision- makers prevent deadly violence by keeping them up-to-date with developments in over 70 conicts and crises, identifying trends and alerting them to risks of escalation and opportunities to advance peace. Learn more about CrisisWatch March 2021 Global Overview MARCH 2021 Trends for Last Month March 2021 DETERIORATED Outlook for This Month SITUATIONS April 2021 Niger, Mozambique, Senegal, CONFLICT RISK ALERTS Taiwan Strait, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Ukraine, Brazil, None Paraguay RESOLUTION IMPROVED SITUATIONS OPPORTUNITIES Kashmir, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, None Libya https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch/print?t=Crisiswatch+March+2021&crisiswatch=16714&date=March+2021 1/50 4/2/2021 CrisisWatch Print | Crisis Group CrisisWatch highlights deteriorations in nine countries and conict areas in March. In Mozambique, Islamist insurgents launched a major attack on the strategic port town of Palma in the far north, leaving scores dead and triggering a mass exodus. A spate of jihadist attacks in Niger killed over 200 civilians, while authorities foiled a coup attempt ahead of President-elect Mohamed Bazoum’s inauguration on 2 April. Mass protests continued against the military coup in Myanmar as security forces ramped up their deadly crackdown on demonstrators. More than 500 civilians have been killed since 1 February. In Brazil, political tensions peaked as the rift deepened between President Jair Bolsonaro and the military, while the COVID-19 pandemic spiralled out of control. The conict escalated in Ukraine’s east as the Donbas ceasere faced growing strains with over twenty killed.
    [Show full text]
  • Popular Expressions of Southern African Nationalism(S): Convergences, Divergences, and Reconciliations in South Africa and Zimbabwe
    POPULAR EXPRESSIONS OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN NATIONALISM(S): CONVERGENCES, DIVERGENCES, AND RECONCILIATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ZIMBABWE By Blessing Shingirirai Mavima A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of African American and African Studies – Doctor of Philosophy 2019 ABSTRACT POPULAR EXPRESSIONS OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN NATIONALISM(S): CONVERGENCES, DIVERGENCES, AND RECONCILIATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ZIMBABWE By Blessing Shingirirai Mavima Popular Expressions of Pan-Africanism and Southern African Nationalism(s): Convergences, Divergences, and Reconciliations in South Africa and Zimbabwe is a dissertation study that traces the transformations, reveals the tensions, and critically analyzes diverging and converging trajectories of different manifestations of African nationalism, including ethnic nationalism, state nationalism, and Pan-Africanism using contemporary South Africa and Zimbabwe as sites of analyses. Focusing on the metropolitan provinces of Gauteng and Harare respectively, I use the study to interrogate how popular expressions of African nationalism have emerged and evolved in the neighboring nations during their anti-colonial/anti-apartheid struggles throughout the 20 th century, and how they exist today. Presenting a thesis that I call nationalisms from below, the research study reveals how these manifestations of nationalism are imagined, practiced, and represente d by the initiatives and actions of different members of the civil society including artists, activists, laborers, and migrants in the two countries’ contemporary politics and society. My findings lead to a nuanced determination of the factors that influence the intersections, divergences, and convergences of what I refer to in the study as Africa’s tripartite nationalist expressions and identities—ethnicism, African Nationalism, and Pan- Africanism.
    [Show full text]
  • Zimbabwe in Transition
    Zimbabwe in Transition Zimbabwe in Transition A View from Within Edited by Tim Murithi and Aquilina Mawadza First published by Fanele – an imprint of Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd – in 2011 10 Orange Street Sunnyside Auckland Park 2092 South Africa (+27 11) 628-3200 www.jacana.co.za © The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, 2011 All rights reserved ISBN 978-1-920196-356 Cover design by publicide Set in New Caledonia 11/15pt Printed by XXX Job no. 001568 See a complete list of Jacana titles at www.jacana.co.za Contents Contributors . x Introduction – Dr Fanie du Toit, Executive Director of IJR . x 1 Zimbabwe’s failed transition? An analysis of the challenges and complexities in Zimbabwe’s transition to democracy in the post-2000 period – James Muzondidya . x 2 Voices from civil society – Otto Saki and Washington Katema . x 3 Voices from faith-based communities – Ezra Chitando and Molly Manyonganise . x 4 The Zimbabwean diaspora: Opportunities and challenges for engagement in Zimbabwe’s political development and economic transformation – James Muzondidya . x 5 The role of women in Zimbabwe’s transition – Kudakwashe Chitsike . x 6 Incising an unripe abscess: The challenges of community healing in Zimbabwe – Wellington Mbofana . x 7 The role of the Zimbabwean media in the transition process – Juliet Thondhlana x 8 The youth movement and democratisation in Zimbabwe: Youth bulges, contentious politics and democratic transitions – Arnold R Chamunogwa . x 9 Voices from Pan-African Society on Zimbabwe: South Africa, the African Union and SADC – Tim Murithi and Aquilina Mawadza . x Index . x Zimbabwe in Transition Contributors James Muzondidya is a Zimbabwean academic and policy analyst.
    [Show full text]
  • State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2011
    State of the minority rights World’s Minorities group and Indigenous international Peoples 2011 Events of 2010 Focus on Women’s Rights Focus on Women’s Rights State of theWorld’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 20111 Events of 2010 Edited by Joanna Hoare Minority Rights Group International Acknowledgements Getting involved Minority Rights Group International (MRG) MRG relies on the generous support of institutions gratefully acknowledges the support of all organizations and individuals to further our work. All donations and individuals who gave financial and other assistance received contribute directly to our projects with to this publication, including CAFOD, the European minorities and indigenous peoples. Commission, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, One valuable way to support us is to subscribe to and Matrix Causes Fund. our report series. Subscribers receive regular MRG reports and our annual review. We also have over © Minority Rights Group International, July 2011. 100 titles which can be purchased from our publi- All rights reserved. cations catalogue. In addition, MRG publications are available to minority and indigenous peoples’ Material from this publication may be reproduced organizations through our library scheme. for teaching or for other non-commercial purposes. MRG’s unique publications provide well- No part of it may be reproduced in any form for researched, accurate and impartial information on commercial purposes without the prior express minority and indigenous peoples’ rights worldwide. permission of the copyright holders. We offer critical analysis and new perspectives on international issues. Our specialist training materi- For further information please contact MRG. als include essential guides for NGOs and others A CIP catalogue record of this publication is on international human rights instruments, and on available from the British Library.
    [Show full text]
  • Constructions of Nationhood in Secession Debates Related to Mthwakazi Liberation Front in Bulawayo’S Chronicle and Newsday Newspapers in 2011
    Constructions of nationhood in secession debates related to Mthwakazi Liberation Front in Bulawayo’s Chronicle and Newsday newspapers in 2011. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies RHODES UNIVERSITY By Mphathisi Ndlovu Supervisor: Professor Lynette Steenveld November 2012 i DEDICATION In loving memory of my brother, Shepherd Melusi Ndlovu, who is gone but never forgotten. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been completed without the help and unequivocal support from the people around me. I owe my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Prof Lynette Steenveld, whose wisdom, knowledge and commitment towards my work guided and inspired me throughout the whole process of dissertation writing. I am greatly indebted to my beloved family who have always supported, motivated, and believed in me in all my endeavours. To mum, dad, Sibusiso, Nompilo, Sehliselo, Hloniphani, and Hlalisani, you are truly a gift in my life. Not forgetting my friends, Chelesani Moyo and Abigail Tshuma, whose advice, support and care has been invaluable throughout my time at Rhodes University. To my MA colleagues, Ajibola, Fuel, Richard, Egbert, Paul, Judith, and Susan, I will always cherish the time we spent together. This thesis would not have been completed without the financial assistance from my two sisters, Sehliselo and Hloniphani. Words are not enough to express my gratitude to you. Above all, I am forever indebted to my God for granting me the wisdom and strength to complete this academic journey. iii ABSTRACT This study investigates the constructions of nationhood in two Bulawayo newspapers, the Chronicle and Newsday.
    [Show full text]
  • History of Ndebele Kingdom
    History of Ndebele Kingdom Ndebele are distantly related to Zulu tribe. However, they are totally different nation. Ndebele are people of South Africa and Zimbabwe as the kingdom is a union of different tribes including the Northern Ndebele and their not so closely related Southern Ndebele. Northern Ndebele are a bantu speaking group of people, an ethnic group in Southern Africa that shares common culture and language called isiNdebele. The Northern Ndebele were originally known as Matebele, meaning people who are protected behind tall cow hide shields. The history of Northern Ndebele people began when a Abe-Nguni gropu split from King Shaka of Zululand in the early 1970, they were under the leadership of Mzilikazi a former chief and ally to Shaka Zulu under his command Abe-Nguni went to conquer and rule the areas of the Southern Ndebele. Mzilikazi (meaning The Great Road), was a Southern African king who founded the Matabele kingdom (Mthwakazi), Matabeleland, in what became Rhodesia and is now Zimbabwe. He was born ca. 1790 near Mkuze, Zululand (now part of South Africa).This is where the identity and kingdom of Ndebele were chosen at a particularly disturbing period in Nguni and Sotho- Tswana history as the Mfecane. In Zulu, the word means "crushing." Mfecane refers to a period of political disruption and population migration in Southern Africa which occurred during the 1820s and 1830s. Mzilikazi's battalion travelled west towards the present city of Pretoria and found a settlement called Laladela Mzilikazi's soldiers were about 500 in number. Mzilikazi was defeated by the Voortrekkers in 1836.
    [Show full text]