We forget …

We forget the newly independent Tanzania, Zambia, and other ‘Front line States’ in the struggle against Apartheid tyranny.

We forget the burdens they shouldered as they embodied the very essence of that very humane of philosophies – uBuntu – I am because we are.

We forget the Apartheid foe foment civil-wars in Mozambique by incubating Renamo as a counter-revolutionary force against Frelimo.

We forget Unita in Angola battling the MPLA.

We forget Koevoet in Namibia fighting SWAPO.

We forget The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale.

We forget The Wankie Campaign.

We forget …

We forget much.

The Death of Emmanuel Sithole

The Death of Emmanuel Sithole

rivers of tears a-flowin’ down human cheeks falling like machetes

onto blood-drenched streets of brittle consciences

inured numbed dumbed bought co-opted

digested in the belly of the beast of belched whiskey and puffed cigars

rising like smoke from chimneys and those crematoria of not-so long ago

grinding down wearing thin corroding at the soul of what is supposed to make us human

while we barrel ever onwards towards that final resting place

where impaled humanity slinks away to cower apathetically

to regurgitate to ravenously scavenge in the bowls of the blind stitching

our eyes shut as the tears flow as blood down the street

where Emmanuel Sithole was killed

by me you them us.

all of us!