Gukurahundi: Upon reading some of the material, and from our evidence gathered - it is apparent to us that the term “Gukurahundi” fails to portray the absolute horrors of that genocide - the hunting down and brutal torture, murder of children, women and men folk by deranged psychopaths - all upon the orders of Mugabe, Mnangagwa and 'others'.
The term itself has been framed as an almost poetic “moment of madness” (Mugabe’s cynical words). This period wrought incomprehensible brutality that we in the West, and within the British Establishment can never fully understand. That period within Zimbabwe from 1983-1987 cannot be ignored, cannot be cured with “an apology” - it requires JUSTICE - because some of the perpetrators of that unimaginable genocide are alive today and within the current regime. Like the sword of Damaclease - it is still there - still an aberration - yet to see Justice.
No, Gukurahundi is not the correct description; it is from the same depraved psychosis that started this horrific genocide itself. It needs a new, fully descriptive terminology, one that we cannot yet construct in our minds
- Details
- Written by: By Michael Sibangilizwe Nkomo
- Hits: 371
The ZANU PF-led government of Zimbabwe has over the years, through its propaganda institutions, shameless minions and lapdogs, made concerted efforts to try to convince the world that the Gukurahundi issue was resolved when PF ZAPU and ZANU signed the lopsided and nefarious unity accord of 1987. Nothing could be further from the truth. Gukurahundi, the 5th Brigade’s bloodletting genocidal spree, was mechanically curtailed by the signing of the Unity Accord and we take cognizance of that, but Gukurahundi as an ideology has been deepened, institutionalized and entrenched in the body politic of Zimbabwe, across communities, which greatly affects our daily lives as Zimbabweans.
Gukurahundi was not a freak moment of madness as once claimed by the late Robert Mugabe, in a futile attempt to absolve himself of any wrongdoing. It was a well-planned and well-orchestrated system meant to subjugate and keep populations in constant and perpetual fear, bewilderment and docility. This state of affairs of course has helped ZANU PF in its quest for the establishment of a one-party state. In the past 43 years, Gukurahundi has taken root, grown and nurtured by evil systems of patronage and nepotism. It has also flourished by being constantly watered with the emotions of tribalism.
Gukurahundi has given birth to Gukurahundism.
My statement today is not going to dwell on the heinous crimes, atrocities and human rights abuses by the Gukurahundists. My intention here is to offer a synopsis of the aftermath of Gukurahundi, which I call Gukurahundism. We are all aware that the architects and perpetrators of the genocide of Gukurahundi, some of whom are today in very powerful and very high positions of leadership in our country, were never made to account for their sins, not one of them. They literally got away with murder, rape and many more evils. What this did was to create a sad culture of impunity and immunity. That culture today is brazenly embraced by all manner of criminals who when caught red handed openly and pompously brag saying, "Muchatiita sei? Lizasenzani? What are you going to do about it?"