Machingura, The Judas Iscariot episode in the Zimbabwean Religio-Political debate...been the trend in both ZANU-PF and the MDC in relation to the succes-
sion issue^51 or factions in these parties where the label is generally ap-
plied against those with different views in their respective parties.
Of notable observation is that the label ‘sell out’ has consistently been
used against the opposition leaders and their supporters who are re-
garded as enemies of the state and nation. The Zimbabwean public and
independent media have played a critical role in promoting hate speech
and intolerance. The public media are notable for using words like: ‘sell
outs, puppets and traitors’ in reference to opposition parties. The mem-
bers of the presidium (President Mugabe, Joyce Mujuru and late Vice
President Joseph Msika) were quoted by the public media fanning vio-
lence. Joseph Msika said ‘if you vote for Tsvangirai on June 27, 2008, you
are voting for the former Rhodesians and you are voting for war’.^52
President Mugabe is reported saying, ‘Kutengeswa kwakaitwa gore ra-
kapera hatidi kukuona-let there be no selling out as happened in 2008.
The two wings, youth and women’s league; it is youth league we rely on.
They are full of blood, full of vigor. There should be no reversal of our
sovereignty’.^53 It is in such circumstances where Zimbabwe’s sover-
eignty is linked to ZANU-PF that, violence against other political group-
ings becomes the order of the day. The public media gave the impres-
sion to the public that ZANU-PF was the only legitimate political group-
ing destined to rule in Zimbabwe; any other political grouping was
criminal or witchcraft. There were reports by the foreign and independ-
ent media of MDC supporters being killed, abducted, tortured, and
raped for the only reason of belonging to another party which is not
ZANU-PF. Several villagers in the rural areas were forced to surrender
their livestock, grain and other belongings to ZANU-PF structures as
payment for ‘selling-out’.^54 This was clearly stated by ZANU-PF Makoni
South aspiring candidate, Nathaniel Mhiripiri, that ‘it’s either you are
ZANU-PF or an enemy. We will deal with sell outs. I will kill anyone
who defects from ZANU-PF to MDC’.^55 The use of the label ‘sell out’ is
(^51) ‘Succession Clique a bunch of Sell-Outs’, http://www.zicora.com, accessed, 18 March
2010.
(^52) Report Exposes Culture of hate and intolerance in State Media, http://www. swra-
dioafrica.com/news211209/report211209.htm, accessed, 22 July 2010.
(^53) Report Exposes Culture of hate and intolerance in State Media.
(^54) ZANU-PF ‘thugs’ Evicted, The Zimbabwean, 24 February 2010.
(^55) T Sibanda, ZANU-PF official boasts he has authority to kill MDC activists, SW Radio
Africa News, 25 January 2010.