We asked GROK2 about Mugabe and Mnangagwa's involvement in the Genocide Campaign and the purpose of their Scheme. It provided, based on research over the decades to following;
The organization and control of the Gukurahundi campaign by Robert Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa were primarily aimed at consolidating power and eliminating political opposition in Zimbabwe after independence. Here's how they orchestrated and controlled the campaign, and why ZAPU was targeted:
Organization and Control:
Fifth Brigade: The Gukurahundi was executed mainly through the Fifth Brigade, a military unit trained by North Korean military experts starting in 1980. This brigade was directly under Mugabe's control and not part of the regular Zimbabwe National Army command structure, allowing for direct orders from Mugabe to be carried out without interference. The brigade was largely composed of ex-ZANLA (Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, the armed wing of ZANU-PF) fighters, which were predominantly Shona.
Political and Military Strategy: Mugabe's government used the Fifth Brigade to conduct a campaign of terror in Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands, areas where ZAPU (Zimbabwe African People's Union) had strong support. The operations were not just military but also served political ends by weakening ZAPU's organizational structure and support base. This was part of a broader strategy to establish a one-party state under ZANU-PF.
Intelligence and Security Measures: Emmerson Mnangagwa, as Minister of State for National Security at the time, played a significant role in the intelligence and security aspects of Gukurahundi. His ministry was involved in identifying and targeting ZAPU members and sympathizers, often using brutal methods to gather information or eliminate opposition.
Targeting ZAPU:
Political Rivalry: Despite being allies during the liberation struggle against white minority rule, ZANU-PF and ZAPU had significant ideological and strategic differences, compounded by ethnic tensions between the Shona-dominated ZANU-PF and the Ndebele-dominated ZAPU. After independence, these tensions escalated into open conflict when Mugabe accused ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo of plotting a coup, leading to Nkomo's dismissal from the government in 1982.
Elimination of Opposition: The aim was to dismantle ZAPU's political and military influence. Gukurahundi was seen as a means to "cleanse" the political landscape of ZAPU's presence by targeting not only armed dissidents but also civilians perceived as ZAPU supporters, thereby creating a deterrent against opposition to ZANU-PF's rule.
Control Over Matabeleland: The campaign was particularly vicious in Matabeleland because this region was a stronghold for ZAPU. By targeting this area, Mugabe and Mnangagwa sought to break the spirit and organizational backbone of ZAPU, ensuring ZANU-PF's dominance across the country.
The Gukurahundi campaign resulted in the deaths of thousands, with estimates around 20,000, and was later described by Mugabe himself as a "moment of madness." However, it effectively led to the 1987 Unity Accord, where ZAPU was absorbed into ZANU-PF, creating a de facto one-party state under Mugabe's leadership. This move was strategic in silencing opposition and centralizing power but left a legacy of trauma, ethnic division, and unresolved justice issues in Zimbabwe.
Emmerson Mnangagwa's role in the Gukurahundi campaign is a subject of significant debate, controversy, and analysis:
Position and Influence:
State Security Minister: At the time of the Gukurahundi massacres, from 1980 to 1988, Mnangagwa served as Zimbabwe's Minister of State Security, overseeing the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). This position placed him at the heart of the government's security apparatus, which was crucial in the execution of Gukurahundi.
Involvement in Gukurahundi:
Intelligence Gathering: Mnangagwa's role involved intelligence operations, where the CIO was accused of providing lists of ZAPU operatives and supporters to the Fifth Brigade and other military units involved in the campaign. This intelligence was used to target individuals for arrest, torture, or execution.
Public Statements: Mnangagwa made several public speeches during this period that are seen as inflammatory or inciting violence. For instance, at a rally in Victoria Falls in 1983, he likened dissidents to "cockroaches and bugs" that needed to be eradicated, drawing parallels with the rhetoric used in other genocides. This speech was interpreted by critics as endorsing the violent actions against ZAPU and the Ndebele population.
Operational Coordination: Though not directly commanding the Fifth Brigade, Mnangagwa was involved in the broader strategic and operational coordination. Historical accounts and documents suggest he played a role in the planning phase, ensuring that the intelligence and security aspects of the campaign were aligned with military operations.
Denials and Defenses:
Mnangagwa has publicly denied being the "architect" or having direct command over the atrocities. He has argued that he was not the President, Minister of Defence, or the army commander, therefore not directly responsible for the military actions. However, his role in intelligence and security governance during this period has led many to argue otherwise.
Mnangagwa's response to questions about Gukurahundi has often been to deflect blame, suggesting that the military commanders and the then-President Robert Mugabe were the primary decision-makers. Critics argue this is an attempt to distance himself from his significant involvement in the security apparatus.
Post-Gukurahundi Era:
Continued Political Career: Despite his alleged role, Mnangagwa's career did not falter; he held numerous high-level positions, including Vice President and eventually President of Zimbabwe after Mugabe's ousting in 2017.
Healing and Reconciliation:
As President, Mnangagwa has initiated programs aimed at addressing the Gukurahundi issue, like the Gukurahundi Community Engagement Programme launched in July 2024, focusing on national healing and reconciliation. However, these efforts are met with skepticism due to his historical involvement, with many survivors and critics questioning the sincerity and effectiveness of these initiatives.
Criticism and Accountability:
Human Rights and Accountability: Human rights organizations and critics have called for accountability regarding his role during Gukurahundi. There have been demands for apologies, acknowledgment of responsibility, and justice for the victims, but Mnangagwa has not formally acknowledged personal culpability for the events.
Historical Records and Testimonies: Various books, articles, and testimonies from the period implicate Mnangagwa, with authors like David Coltart detailing in their writings the extent of his involvement. However, these accounts are often countered by Mnangagwa's denials and his supporters' narratives.
The complexity of Mnangagwa's role in Gukurahundi involves a blend of direct oversight of intelligence operations and strategic political maneuvering, set against a backdrop of denial and efforts towards reconciliation that are viewed with considerable skepticism by those affected by the events.
From ZAPU's perspective, Gukurahundi was a deliberate, state-sponsored campaign of genocide and political suppression by ZANU-PF, under Robert Mugabe's leadership, aimed at annihilating ZAPU politically and physically decimating its support base, particularly among the Ndebele ethnic group in Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands. Here's a detailed overview of ZAPU's perspective based on historical accounts and statements from ZAPU leaders and supporters:
Political Annihilation:
Targeting ZAPU: ZAPU views Gukurahundi as an operation explicitly designed to destroy its organizational structure and eliminate its leaders and supporters. The targeting was not just of the remnants of ZIPRA (Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army, ZAPU's military wing) but extended to all perceived ZAPU affiliates, including civilians, which was seen as an attack on the Ndebele community at large.
Unity Accord: The 1987 Unity Accord that merged ZAPU into ZANU-PF was, from ZAPU's perspective, forced upon them under duress, with the Gukurahundi serving as a backdrop of violence that left ZAPU with no choice but to capitulate to avoid further bloodshed. This accord effectively ended ZAPU as an independent political force, which many within ZAPU saw as the ultimate goal of Gukurahundi.
Human and Cultural Loss:
Mass Killings and Disappearances: ZAPU has consistently condemned the mass killings, torture, rape, and disappearances committed during Gukurahundi. They highlight the human cost, which they estimate at around 20,000 lives lost, though exact numbers remain contested.
Cultural Impact: Beyond the immediate loss of life, ZAPU points to the cultural and psychological trauma inflicted upon the Ndebele communities, which they argue has had lasting effects on their identity, cohesion, and the socio-economic development of Matabeleland.
Call for Justice and Reconciliation:
Truth and Accountability: ZAPU has long called for a formal truth commission or an independent investigation into the events of Gukurahundi, seeking acknowledgment of the genocide, justice for the victims, and accountability for the perpetrators. They argue that without this, true reconciliation and healing cannot occur.
Restitution: There's a demand for restitution, including the return of properties seized from ZAPU and its members during and after the campaign, as well as compensation for the families of the victims.
Current Advocacy and Political Stance:
Revival and Remembrance: Although significantly weakened and absorbed into ZANU-PF, elements of ZAPU have sought to revive the party, emphasizing the memory of Gukurahundi as a rallying cry against ZANU-PF's historical and current abuses of power. The party and its supporters continue to advocate for the recognition of Gukurahundi as genocide and for the establishment of memorials and educational programs to remember the victims. Criticism of Mnangagwa’s Initiatives: Recent efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to address Gukurahundi through community engagement programs are met with skepticism by ZAPU. Many within the party view these efforts as insincere, especially given Mnangagwa's role in the security apparatus during the Gukurahundi era.
ZAPU's perspective is thus one of deep-seated grievance, seeing Gukurahundi Genocide, not as a mere historical event, but as a calculated political strategy by ZANU-PF to eliminate opposition and consolidate power, with lasting repercussions on the political, social, and cultural fabric of Zimbabwe, particularly in Matabeleland.