US President Barack Obama has waded into ongoing efforts by the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) by reminding the world of the “systematic murder of many thousands of people” in Matabeleland in the 1980s.
President Obama was speaking at the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Award ceremony, in the East Room of the White House in Washington on November 23 where the 2009 award was presented to Bulawayo raised Zimbabwean human rights activist Magodonga Mahlangu and Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), represented by co-founder Jenni Williams.
“As a young girl raised in Matabeleland — in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe in the early 1980s, Magodonga witnessed the — Gukurahundi massacres — the systematic murder of many thousands of people, including her uncle and several cousins — many of whom were buried in mass graves that they’d been forced to dig themselves,” President Obama said.
On the 20th October 2009, ZAPU’s Europe province wrote and requested that Professor Nowak includes as part of his terms of reference; the investigation into the Gukurahundi atrocities committed by Robert Mugabe and the ZANU led government in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces of Zimbabwe between 1982 and 1987. This was in the context of his visit to Zimbabwe (28 October 2009 – 4 November 2009). Sadly but not surprisingly, The ZANU PF and MDC government of national unity refused Professor Nowak entry into Zimbabwe to carry out these investigations.
In 1982, Robert Mugabe and ZANU PF, in pursuit of a one party state sought help from North Korea who trained the brutal 5th brigade. In 1983, this notorious brigade was deployed in Midlands and Matabeleland in an operation code named Gukurahundi (a word meaning rains or floods that wipe away rubbish in the Shona language).
Many analysts and those close to the operations at the time confirmed that there was a plan to wipe out all the ZAPU supporters, most of whom were uMthwakazi or isiNdebele speakers.
For about five years, the 5 Brigade massacred innocent civilians using the propaganda excuse that there had been insurgency in the ZAPU strongholds. Leaders Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, Lt Gen Lookout Masuku and others were arrested on trumped up charges of treason. They were acquitted by the Supreme Court in 1983, but were detained for four more years without charge. Lt Gen Masuku died in April 1986 in what many believe to be related to treatment in detention.
More than 20,000 innocent civilian were killed and thousands disappeared. They were buried in mass graves and some thrown in disused mines. Thousands of women and children survivors were rapped and abused.
The Government has repeatedly refused to acknowledge or offer any death certificates for those killed by the 5 Brigade. Many orphans were left with no identities and were thus unable to get education. The Zimbabwean system requires that you bring either parents or death certificates in order to get a birth certificate.
There has never been any compensation for victims and survivors. Many still need counselling to recover from the trauma of what they witnessed at the time.
Most Zimbabweans from other parts of the country also need to be educated about the truth about a genocide done in their name.
Background of ZAPU
ZAPU was formed in 1961. ZAPU is the first political party to fight for democracy, human rights and liberation for all Zimbabweans regardless of tribe, colour or language. We established relations with the British and the rest of the world based on our sound policies under the leadership of the late Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
In 1979, ZAPU signed the Lancaster agreement as part of the Patriotic Front leading to Zimbabwe’s independence. In 1980, we joined a Government of National Unity (GNU) but were dismissed in 1982 when Mugabe and ZANU PF started cracking down on our supporters and persecuting our leadership.
After Mugabe killed more than 20,000 of innocent and defenceless civilian ZAPU supporters, the party was forced into a GNU in 1987 for peace. ZAPU pulled out of the Unity Accord on 16th May 2009. We are now the opposition party in Zimbabwe with an important constituency.
Additional reporting: The Zimbabwean
As a Reference, the following is important: (Editor)
Background
During Rhodesian Bush War, the main liberation party, the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), split into two groups in 1963, the split-away group being named Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU).[3] Though these groups had a common origin they gradually grew apart, with the split away group, ZANU, recruiting mainly from the Shona regions, while ZAPU recruited mainly from Ndebele-speaking regions in the west.[4]
The armies of these two groups, ZAPU’s Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), and ZANU’s Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), developed rivalries for the support of the people and would fight each other. When Zimbabwe won independence, the two armies so distrusted each other that it was difficult to integrate them both into the National Army.[4] These problems were not only in Matabeleland, but throughout the country. For example: former ZANLA elements attacked civilian areas in Mutoko, Mount Darwin and Gutu. It seemed both sides had hidden weapons. There were major outbreaks of violence between ZIPRA and ZANLA awaiting integration into the National Army. The first of these was in November 1980, followed by a more serious incident in early 1981. This led to the defection of many ZIPRA members. It was thought that ZAPU was supporting a new dissident war in order to improve its position in Zimbabwe. In the elections held in April 1980, ZANU-PF received 57 out of 100 seats and Robert Mugabe became prime minister.[2]
First Entumbane uprising
In November 1980 Enos Nkala made remarks at a rally in Bulawayo, in which he warned ZAPU that ZANU would deliver a few blows against them. This started the first Entumbane uprising, in which ZIPRA and ZANLA fought a pitched battle for two days.[5]
In February 1981 there was a second uprising, which spread to Glenville and also to Connemara in the Midlands. ZIPRA troops in other parts of Matabeleland headed for Bulawayo to join the battle, and ex-Rhodesian units had to come in to stop the fighting. Over 30000 people were killed.
The government asked Justice Enoch Dumbutshena, the former Chief Justice of Zimbabwe, to hold an inquiry into the uprising – to date the findings and report have never been released.
Many ZIPRA cadres defected after Entumbane, mainly because they were afraid of staying in the army, as they felt some of their colleagues were disappearing mysteriously. They were also annoyed because they felt ZANLA cadres were being favoured for promotion. It was these issues rather than any clear political policy, which caused them to leave the army, taking their guns with them.[4]
1982
This situation became worse after the finding of arms caches in February 1982. ZANU now openly accused ZAPU of plotting another war and ZAPU leaders were arrested or removed from cabinet. However, the treason trial in 1982 involving Dumiso Dabengwa, Lookout Masuku and four others failed to prove a case against them. All were released although Dabengwa and Masuku were redetained without trial for four years. Possibly thousands of ex-ZIPRA cadres deserted the army after this. Most of them now claim that they saw this as necessary to stay alive. With their leaders all locked up or in exile, they felt there was nobody to protect them within the army. “We were threatened, that was why I decided to desert,” said one dissident.[4]
Zimbabwe’s government explained that it had no other option except to restore order. Only after an armed assault on Mugabe’s home, attacks on military and police outposts, the abduction of tourists, and the destruction of infrastructure did the government send troops to restore order. It was believed that ZAPU dissidents would not recognize any government not headed by Nkomo.[6]
South African Interference
As countries in southern Africa began to gain their independence starting in 1975, the apartheid regime in South Africa increased its policy of destabilizing these countries. South African intervention included the systematic supply of disinformation to the Zimbabwe Government. In addition, there were military attacks on the government and on the country’s infrastructure. Many ex-members of the Rhodesian armed forces and police became integrated into South Africa’s military. Aggression by South Africans in Zimbabwe included the destruction of a large arsenal at Inkomo Barracks near Harare in August 1981, an attempt to murder Prime Minister Mugabe in December 1981, and sabotage of the Thornhill Air Base in Gweru in July 1982. South Africa’s policy of destabilizing Zimbabwe by military means, while blaming ZAPU for the actions of South African agents, helped to escalate the breakdown between ZAPU and ZANU in the early 1980s. This in turn led Zimbabwe to retain a state of emergency throughout the 1980s.[2]
Super ZAPU was a group of South African backed dissidents. South Africa provided ammunition for Super ZAPU. Super ZAPU was directly responsible for the murder of white farmers in southern Matabeleland.
Fifth Brigade
Robert Mugabe, then Prime Minister, had signed an agreement with North Korean President Kim Il Sung in October 1980 to have the North Korean military train a brigade for the Zimbabwean army. This was soon after Mugabe had announced the need for a militia to “combat malcontents.” Mugabe replied by saying dissidents should “watch out,” announcing the brigade would be called “Gukurahundi.”[1] This brigade was named the Fifth Brigade. The members of the Fifth Brigade were drawn from 3500 ex-ZANLA troops at Tongogara Assembly Point, named after Josiah Tongogara, the ZANLA general. There were a few ZIPRA (ZAPU) troops in the unit for a start, but they were withdrawn before the end of the training. The training of 5 Brigade lasted until September 1982, when Minister Sekeramayi announced training was complete.
The first Commander of the Fifth Brigade was Colonel Perence Shiri. The Fifth Brigade was different from all other Zimbabwean army units in that it was directly subordinated to the Prime Minister office, and not integrated to the normal army command structures. Their codes, uniforms, radios and equipment were not compatible with other army units. Their most distinguishing feature in the field was their red berets.[4]
Conflict
Most of the dead were shot in public executions, often after being forced to dig their own graves in front of family and fellow villagers. The largest number of dead in a single killing was on 5 March 1983, when 62 young men and women were shot on the banks of the Cewale River, Lupane.[7] Seven survived with gunshot wounds, the other 55 died. Another way 5 Brigade used to kill large groups of people was to burn them alive in huts. They did this in Tsholotsho and also in Lupane. They would routinely round up dozens, or even hundreds, of civilians and march them at gun point to a central place, like a school or bore-hole. There they would be forced to sing Shona songs praising ZANU, at the same time being beaten with sticks. These gatherings usually ended with public executions. Those killed could be ex-ZIPRAs, ZAPU officials, or anybody chosen at random. The Zimbabwe government repuditated these allegations and accused the hostile foreign press of fabricating stories. The government characterized such allegations as irresponsible, contrived propaganda because it failed to give proper weight to the violence by dissidents. [8]
Dissidents murdered civilians on commercial farms and communal areas. Those murdered were regarded as “sell-outs”. The dissidents targeted ZANU officials. It is estimated that 7000-8000 people were murdered by dissident gangs in rural regions.[2]In August 1985, dissidents massacred 22 Shona civilians in Mwenezi. On a mission farm in Matobo, dissidents massacred 16 people. [9]
Unity Accord of 1987
Mugabe and ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo signed the Unity Accord on December 22, 1987.[10] This effectively dissolved ZAPU into ZANU, renamed ZANU-PF. On 18 April 1988, Mugabe announced an amnesty for all dissidents, and Nkomo called on them to lay down their arms. A general ordinance was issued saying all those who surrendered before 31 May would get a full pardon. This was extended not just to dissidents but to criminals of various types serving jail terms. Over the next few weeks, 122 dissidents surrendered.
In June the amnesty was extended to include all members of the security forces who had committed human rights violations.
In the 1990s the disturbances were finally at an end. This brought relief nation-wide, but in parts of the country it has left behind many problems that remain unsolved to this day. These include poor health, poverty, practical and legal problems and a deep-rooted suspicion of Government officials.
References
Some of the material here is drawn from a report compiled by the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) and the Catholic commission for justice and peace in zimbabwe (CCJP) entitled Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace. A report on the disturbances in Matabeleland and the Midlands 1980–1989.
Notes
- ^ a b Nyarota, Geoffrey. Against the Grain. Page 134.
- ^ a b c d Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe
- ^ [1] “Zimbabwe African National Union,” Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2008, accessed 30 June 2008. Archived 2009-10-31.
- ^ a b c d e http://www.sokwanele.com/pdfs/BTS.pdf “Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace. A report on the disturbances in Matabeleland and the Midlands 1980–1989″
- ^ NYAROTA SPEAKS : The Zimbabwe Times
- ^ Manning Marable, Speaking Truth to Power
- ^ AfricaFiles | The Matabeleland Report: A lot to hide
- ^ Collier’s Yearbook, 1982, 1983, New York: MacMillan
- ^ E.P Makambe, Marginalising the Human Rights Campaign: The Dissident Factor and the Politics of Violence in Zimbabwe, 1980–1987, Institute of Southern African Studies, National University of Lesotho
- ^ Landmarks in Robert Mugabe’s life – Africa, World – The Independent
Right now Mugabe is the common enemy. And because of Gukurahundi I don’t think its a good idea to revive ZAPU. There is soo much hate and anger, which is directed towards the SHONA people of which I think is directed to the wrong people. direct it to Mugabe AND WE CAN GET TOGETHER TO REMOVE HIM AND MAKE HIM PAY.
Oh Mr Obama, you forgot a little bit of detail, maybe its not important. How your country did not only watch while that happened but actually was complicit in the whole scandal. Tell the people how US, UK and South Africa sponsored Mugabe in this time so as to safeguard the CFU in Matebeleland region.How Mr Nkomo wanted to take the land away from the CFU in similar style to what Mugabe later did in 1999. Your intrests were being served and Mr Mugabe was achieving his goal of a one party state. It was a win win situation.
Those who are not lazy to research, research the link between South Africa and destabilisation of Matebelelanf region, the thornhill airbase theatre like staging of ambushes.I will not let you in on what happened but I just feel pity for my fellow countrymen being hoodwinked by these mercenaries masquerading as democrats in the mould of the Americans and the British.
Who was training the Zimbabwe National Army those days , have you asked yourself that question? Who was providing millitary intellegence in the region?Now even if Mugabe farts they know, so you suppose then that they did not know what was going on in the region? get real bakhiti.
I do not like what Mugabe did those days in Matebeleland but I hate it more when those who helped him now want to portray a holier than thou attitude, disgusting.
If they put Mugabe in a corner, he will spill it all out , so the worst you are going to see is this media grandstanding by the British and the Americans.
I hope I get someone who disputes what I am saying now.
Dear Abel…explain to our readers the link between the Chinese training the 5th Brigade and also the ZAPU connection? (ED)
“For about five years, the 5 Brigade massacred innocent civilians using the propaganda excuse that there had been insurgency in the ZAPU strongholds. Leaders Dr Dumiso Dabengwa, Lt Gen Lookout Masuku and others were arrested on trumped up charges of treason. They were acquitted by the Supreme Court in 1983, but were detained for four more years without charge. Lt Gen Masuku died in April 1986 in what many believe to be related to treatment in detention.
More than 20,000 innocent civilian were killed and thousands disappeared. They were buried in mass graves and some thrown in disused mines. Thousands of women and children survivors were raped and abused.”
Mr Editor, with all due respect, you seem to be missing my point about the complicity of your friends in the west and the Matebeleland massacres. You sound like you want to heap blame on the chinese who you dislike for obvious reasons. The Chinese had no business liking the Matebeles who were backed by the Russians. Poor Matebeles, cornered from all fronts then and now all you guys want to be seen to be on their side, sad indeed.
What you have pasted above is very true and I do nort dispute it at all. There are plenty of videos showing Mugabe being interviewed at that time where he was saying Masuku and Dabengwa were getting away on technicalities and that he would use his powers to detain them all the same. This was in connection with an accusation that Dabengwa went to Zambia and bought arms as if buying on behalf of gvt yet he was buying for zapu for purposes of destabilisation. It was just an accusation like he is doing to Bennett now. But I still stick to my point that your friends in the West and South Africa were involved, yet now they want to point fingers.They take advantage of the fact that Zimbos are a very forgetfull lot. Even the likes of Nyarota who are now pretending to be all good boys were complicit in that racket by their biased reporting in favour of Mugabe. What has changed now.
On a parting note I will re-iterate what I said earlier.What Bob did was excessive then and the people who helped him in his excesses are the very same people acting like angels.Lets discourage violence from whichever quarter it may come from.
Thanks for the response Abel. On a personal note, I am not friends with the West. On a more specific point, Mugabe and his Government was armed and trained initially by the British only until they realised that they were training an army for purposes of suppression. It was some time after that the Chinese provided arms, munitions, training and logistics for the Gukuharundi episode.!!
(Ed)
African politicians burn the whole village in order to protect it. Then the ruling party and the opposition watch the ashes.
And after they realised what Mugabe was doing, why did they keep quiet about it only to speak now? I remember a british journalist actually lost his job because he wanted to publish that story for the british readership. That is what I am against.Why did they not talk then, the double standards are quite nauseating.I dont think you have anyway of justifying what the West did and are doing now. It was wrong and they should have spoken out, period. Its like them speaking out against Karzai in 2035 yet they are aiding and abaiting him now.
point of correction
It was the North Koreans not the chinese
So when Mugabe says that Morgan is getting support from the West, it is a personal experience on the part of Mugabe. Mugabe got all the support from Britain. Let us condemn hammering political opponents, it is wrong whether done by a friend or an enemy.
Now Abel admits to Mugabes murderous ways. The extra details he adds is that he was not checked, he had the deaf ear of the Americans and the British. Does that make Mugabe better. The fact that he murdered and raped in the so called moment of madness while Americans kept quiet does not musk the fact that Mugabe is a mass murderer and mass rapist.
We hear it from Mugabe’s ardent suporter Abel that Mugabe is indeed a devil but those who kept quiet are equally to blame. I know for sure that when the genocide in Rwanda was unfolding Mugabe was quiet so using the argument above we can say Mugabe extended his murderous ways to Rwanda.
One thing that Abel admits to without reservation is that his master is evil and so are his subjects including Abel himself. They smell of blood. Chigure chinonzi Mugabe is a curse to our peace loving nation.
Sama, you will do us a favour and show where we disputed Mugabe’s ways.
How do you compare Mugabe and the West in your example of Rwanda. What did Mugabe have to do with Rwanda? In the case of zim, the west was/is still involved like they are all over the world, sticking their long noses where thay dont belong.
The same way that I say Mugabe is evil, I suggest you also admit that your boss Morgan is equally evil by inviting restrictions against his country which resulted in worsening an already bad situation.I know you feel really hurt to be seen to be speaking against your masters the WEST but they have absolutely no excuse for their involvement in what happened in Matebeleland.
On a different note, the editor claims that the chinese later got involved after the west had left Mugabe. In actual fact like Credsure has mentined, it was the North koreans . And it was not any time later, it was in October of 1980 when Mugabe signed an agreement with the North Koreans for purposes of training a unit to deal with malcontents.The training took place from then till 1983.
It has been said that sanctions against some people in Zimbabwe or Zimbabwe are illegal. If the developed countries decide not to deal with certain people or country for that matter, is it not their right to do so, just like Zimbabwe chooses which countries are its friends and which ones are its enemies? Since the land is the economy and the economy is the land, and the land reform program has been done, why not develop the country without crying about lack of help from the enemies in the West? Afterall, our friends are there in the East, why are they not giving us what the West has stopped giving us. Then it has been said that sanctions were imposed because MDC asked for the sanctions. Does this mean that the developed countries needed MDC’s request for sanctions and would not have implemented the sanctions if the MDC had not called for the sanctions? In other words, the MDC is said to be so powerful that even the developed countries will wait for orders from MDC either to implement or to stop implementing sanctions againts some Zimbabweans or against Zimbabwe. Then on the issue of killing innocent civillians for political reasons or gains, the primary blame should be on the murderers and not to focus on who did or did not do what to stop the killings.
Do not get me wrong I do not support the massacres of innocent civilians that occured in our contry in that dark period. But have you ever thought how the situation would have been if in 1980 it was Dr Joshua Nkomo who had won the 1980 elections and it were roles reversed and Dumiso Dabengwa and Lookout Masuku were up the leadership heirachy. Have you for one minute thought how many people would have been massacred? Would it not have been Robert Mugabe been persecuted together with the likes of Rex Nhongo or other former top Zanla cadres.
The fights between Zapu and Zanu started in the 1960s and there were times on tribal lines but the real gfight was for power.
To cut a long story short what happened during Gukurahundi was unfortunate but it was deeply rooted in the fact that the liberation movement with one objective was split on tribal lines and there were two brilliant individuals who had nearly equal intellect and ability leading the two split groups.
Let us move foward and ensure that what happened to our country will nwver happen again.
Shungu you say :Then on the issue of killing innocent civillians for political reasons or gains, the primary blame should be on the murderers and not to focus on who did or did not do what to stop the killings.
thats nonsense my chief. Those who were complicit should zip it and not try to play angel with us. Many conflicts in the world can be traced back to these heroes of yours like the Obamas and Bushes of this world. The fact that they control the media in the world to shape your opinions does not change anything. They are murderers and should not lecture us on human rights.
No chuckle this time,this is a serious matter.
Abel Americans do double dealings. For example they want the Sudan president to go to the international court in Hague but they Americans themselves are not signatory to those laws. This is not right. Given that Americans are not performing well as the world policemen, we still condemn the political killings in Zimbabwe. Mugabe does not hate the Ndebele people but he hate opposition, he is now very dangerous due to old age. I do not know the true number for the killings to be labelled genocide. Zimbabwean elections are very dangerous.
Dzimai Moto now you are talking.
Americans are double crossing morons and Mugabe is a dangerous old man going for broke because he has a useless opponent so will continue unfazed.
Americans create morons and when they are done with them they want to make it everyone’s problems. They create Saddam for the Iraqi people in their cat and mouse games against USSR during the cold war and when they no longer need him, topple him taking down the Iraqis in the process. those people are making the world a very dangerous place indeed and the naive zimbabwean people think they (Americans) can save them.Sad indeed.
I sympathise with the innocent people of Matebeleland who lost limbs and lives during this sad period of Zimbabwean history. I am a Shona born and bred in Bulawayo and I experienced both Entumbanes and Gukurahundi. It is unfortunate that when people talk about Gukurahundi, people forget about Shonas who were victims of tribalism during the early eighties. A lot of Shonas were killed during the Entumbane uprisings and no one talks about that. This is not to say what the government did was OK. The government has an obligation to protect citizen of the country and should not be forgiven for what happened in Matebeleland during Gukurahundi. Shonas had to learn to speak Sindebele not because they liked the language but because of fear. I remember one day in 1981 when a mob came toy toying at our house shouting “Amasvina kibo, boundery Gwelo” meaning the Shonan should go back to where they came from and the boundery was Gweru. We were only saved by the quick response by the police. There was so much unprovoked hate for the Shonas by the Ndebeles during that time. It is known that the Ndebeles historicaly were tribalistic. This is why their set up had things like Umphakati and amaHole. Its a historical fact that should be known. This is the other side of the story that should be told. I lost relatives who were kidnapped at time by the Ndebele Militias and we never saw the again. No one wants to talk about that. Let our children know all the bad episods of our history.
I hurt so much when I think of the innocent Ndebeles who were killed and maimed. I equally hurt so much when I think of Shonas who were killed just because of their ethnic grouping.
It is a political problem. In Zimbabwe we the ppopulation is grouped into several categories that should fight each other. Let us condemn tribal supremacy and racism. We are all zimbabweans. The politician divides people for a political score.
Abel, The Obama administration is very different from the Bush administration which is also different from the administration that supported Mugabe in the 80’s. They have different policies on different issues. So to put blame on Obama for the support Mugabe received from past American regimes (which Obama administration may not have granted had they been in power at the time) is wrong.
Samaz, at least its you talking. If I had written about my own experience In Bulawayo I would have been accused of taking sides with Mugabe. I will avoid writing it here for the avoidance of spreading hate speech and being a good citizen.What I will just say is ,people will wish they had not invoked these memories if we are pushed too much (Shonas that is)
vana Abby makatizei kumusha,imbwa inonohukurira kuNEXT DOOR!!
Sori maningi but like your name sori maningi. You need to try harder than that. Next you will be telling us that Obama is not obliged to pay debts incurred under the Bush administration.
Well Abel……here we are again.!!
You as an apologist for a Dictator and myself as Devils advocate for a perceived weak leader.
You responded to Sori Manning and referred to the fact that Obama is bound by the previous administrations debts.
I will remind you of the debts accrued by president Mugabe over the last 18 years to at least 4 international institutions which he has refused to acknowledge. The current freeze on balance of payments support, Development aid etc is direct a result of that stupid stance.
Realist, there is no way you can refuse responsibilities of actions of a previous regime. Smith left us a bill of USD800 which has balooned to USD 8 billion over the years. That money was used to kill us during the bush war but we are the ones paying it. Tough luck for Mugabe and tough luck for Obama. They must be men enough and own up.Ukagara nhaka baba vako, zvikwereti zvavo ndezvakowo.If by some miracle Morgan rules Zimbabwe, he will have to pay the debts incurred by Mugabe yet the money was used to bash MDC-T’s teeth in.
So mr Realist you are right,Mugabe must pay up and the institutions are not obliged to give him any more money.
Abel what you are saying is Mugabe must be blamed for the evils that Ian Smith did!
I said Mugabe must pay smiths bills sori maningi. Likewise whoever takes over from Mugabe will pay the bills.
What you are comparing Abel are 2 different things. Support for a particular gvt or individual by another regime depends on the policies of that regime. A new regime might have different views and therefore may alter stance of the previous regime regarding that support that country has for whoever, whereas debts incurred by a particular regime will make the whole country indebted even if a new regime comes in.
True sori Maningi.
Mugabe and his cronies will die soon, they soonwill, they must.
Does this comment from muzezuru not qualify as hate speech r editor or is it fine if the missiles are targetted at Mugabe?
Reading through some of Abel’s comments, it is easy to see which side he is. For example when he writes about the Gukurahundi massacres of the Matebele people he does so in the negative…’I don’t support the massacre, but…’. Elsewhere, somehow in a perveted way, he tries to lend ligitimacy for the killing, by citing an indulgent hypothetical scenario of what ZAPU would have done to the Shona people had they won the control of the state. I would ask him, why this fantacy with so much suffering caused by his paymasters. I think he and people of his ilk should hang their heads in shame for their obsenities.