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- Written by: Tendai Christian Mapfumo and others
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The Gukurahundi Genocide of 1983 to 1987 in Zimbabwe began with a desire and also a design by Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF political party for one-party state rule and life presidency. For all that to be achieved Joshua Nkomo and ZAPU had to be eliminated.
“ Nkomo and his guerillas are germs in the country’s wounds and they have to be cleaned up with iodine” - Edgar Tekere ( ZANU PF stalwart)
Following Zimbabwe’s independence from British rule in 1980, political tension increased between two political groups in Zimbabwe, namely the ruling African National Union (ZANU), led by Robert Mugabe, and the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), led by Joshua Nkomo. Violence unleashed on the Ndebele people by the Mugabe-led government was a direct result of government efforts to silence the voices of minority groups and growing political critique from ZAPU.
In January 1983, the ZANU PF government of Robert Mugabe, in the newly independent Zimbabwe, launched a massive security clampdown on the Ndebele. This was both politically and ethnically motivated. At the heart of the operation was a strategy of state-ordered terror. It was perpetrated by a 4,000-strong all-Shona Fifth Brigade of the Zimbabwean National Army led by Perrance Shiri.
Although they both fought against white rule, and although Nkomo was minister of Home Affairs under Mugabe, both men distrusted each other. In 1982, Mugabe fired Nkomo, accusing him of plotting a coup to overthrow the newly independent country’s government, and promised to root out his supporters from positions of influence.
ZANU PF decided to say there were 'no go' areas, there were certain areas in the country where they would not allow a political party to participate in… These areas were where ZANLA forces had had a strong presence. ZAPU believed that would not be allowed. Nkomo actually made a very strong protest to Lord Staines to say that we can’t call that a free and fair election where you have one party refusing people to come and campaign in the areas where their forces are.
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- Written by: John Burke, Richard Gandari and others, inc BBC Africa
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5th December 2024 at 14:00 to the Office of the UK Prime Minister,
Also by e-mail and post to The FCDO and the Commonwealth Secretariate in London. Also the UN OHCHR in Geneva
Some may know this as the Gukurahundi Genocide - but the Shona word of 'Gukurahundi' cannot ever convey the horrors and 'pure psychotic outrage' conducted sometime from 1983 (approx.) to 1987 when - due to this violent and heartless pressure the leader of ZAPU at that time Dr Joshua Nkomo, reluctantly agreed to subsume ZAPU into the newly created ZANU PF - laughingly termed the "UNITY ACCORD".
A lesson in violence and deceit that still haunts Zimbabwe to this day - as well as being an ongoing strategy of the Zanu PF regime ever since - and now continued by the complicit (in the genocide} E D Mnangagwa.
But returning to the word "GUKURAHUNDI" - the literal meaning, which loosely translates to "the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains". However this can never represent the inhuman genocide which took place - instigated by Mugabe to enforce a one-party State.
The Beginnings
Identifying as a member or supporter of ZAPU became a death wish.
Under the then Prime Minister, Robert Mugabe, a caveat was promulgated, outlawing ZAPU and forfeiting all its properties to the State. Some of the properties belonged to ZPRA, the armed wing of ZAPU during the liberation struggle. Everything was seized and forfeited to the state. Dr Joshua Nkomo was persecuted and hounded into exile. His lieutenants, the late Dr Dumiso Dabengwa and the late Commander Lookout Masuku were thrown into Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison on trumped up charges.
Just like in East Germany in 1990, it has been four decades of denial and deafening silence.
The Evidence Slowly Emerging {Still}
But now, the new light is being shed on these days of horror. Thousands of historical documents that appear to expose the perpetrators are now becoming available in a raft of foreign archival collections. The documents are wide-ranging and include, among others, diplomatic correspondence, intelligence assessments and raw intelligence garnered by spies recruited from within the Zimbabwean government. These papers—augmented by the testimony of Zimbabwean witnesses finding courage in old age—appear to substantiate what survivors and scholars have always suspected but never been able to validate: Mugabe, then Prime Minister, was the prime architect of mass killings that were well-planned and systematically executed.
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As with every election since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, ZANU-PF has perfected the system of rigging. The majority of the election cycles since then have been marred with accusations, and most Zimbabweans will have memorized the entire process, including that the results will and have been rigged.
Fear and corruption plague each and every election in Zimbabwe. Whilst the people expect these systematic failures, it is the growing hopelessness amongst the people that is deeply worrying. To emphasis this, listen to Michael Sibangilizwe Nkomo, President of ZAPU; Indeed this link cites instability within SADC due to Mnangagwa's "meddling"
""Immediately after independence, minus freedom in 1980, a disturbing and false security threat was created by your government {ZANU PF} and apartheid South Africa, claiming instability in Matabeleland and the Midlands. Your party’s {ZANU PF} appetite for a one-party state compelled your government to go into an unholy alliance with Apartheid South Africa in an effort to destroy the long-standing progressive alliance of ZAPU/ZPRA and ANC/Umkhonto weSizwe whom you viewed as a threat to your respective governments.
Dissidents sponsored by your party {ZANU PF} and those of 'Super ZAPU' created by Apartheid South Africa created havoc in Matabeleland and Midlands as a prelude to the genocide that was to follow. This operation code named Gukurahundi turned to target Ndebele Speaking people and the whole world kept mum.""
From an "open letter to E D Mnangagwa from Michael Sibangilizwe Nkomo, ZAPU President dated 13th January 2024
Proving just how undemocratic these elections have been, the police has a tendency of shutting down rallies for the opposition, from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) era and the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), and arrested many of its supporters.
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- Written by: Basil Kamombe With Amnesty International & Job Sikhala
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SADC Region Faces Instability Under Mnangagwa’s Chairmanship
With the release of a hit list earlier this week, it is evident how compromised the entire SADC region has become under Mnangagwa’s leadership. As chairman, Mnangagwa is causing unprecedented instability, both domestically and regionally. His constant campaigning, whether at home or abroad, has led to significant unrest. For instance, the recent elections in Mozambique were marred by irregularities, prompting widespread protests against the alleged rigging. Amnesty International have written as much on 6th November {see below and full article at the web link}
Mozambique: End violent post-election crackdown ahead of 7 November Maputo march
"Ahead of a major opposition march planned for 7 November in Maputo following disputed elections, Mozambique’s Frelimo-led government must halt its violent and widespread crackdown on human rights and respect everyone’s rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, Amnesty International said."
"The crisis in Mozambique is the country’s worst crackdown on protests in years. Police have killed more than 20 people and injured or arrested hundreds more, according to civil society. Security forces have routinely tried to violently and unlawfully break up peaceful assemblies with tear gas, bullets and arbitrary arrests. Authorities say protesters killed at least one police officer."
"“The last two weeks in Mozambique have been marked by completely unnecessary bloodshed as authorities have tried to stop a peaceful protest movement with deadly force. The number of casualties increases every day, with authorities deploying weapons of war, including rifles and armoured vehicles, on city streets. People cannot even protest in their own homes without risking tear gassing by police,” said Khanyo Farise, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa."
His interference is also evident in Botswana, where his influence is causing further disruption.
Job Sikhala write on Twitter {Link to Twitter Post Here}
"ZANU PF has become a regional cancer. Addressing a rally recently in Botswana, President Ian Khama said ZANU PF has sent its agents to rig the forthcoming elections in Botswana to be held on the 30th of October 2024 for Masisi.
He says the same ZANU PF party has been involved in the rigging of the recent elections in Mozambique. He also points out the party's nocturnal involvement in the SA elections held in May this year. As Zimbabweans, we are being risked to be hated everywhere in the region because of a stinking party that loves to interfere in the domestic affairs of other countries.
They are the loudest to cry against interference in the domestic affairs of our own country but found practising exactly the same in other nations. The rigging cancer has been spread throughout the region. Everyone is crying against the activities of ZANU PF. They must not create problems for our people living in those countries through their activities in the region. They are no different from those countries sponsoring terrorism in other regions!!!
Mnangagwa’s relentless pursuit of an unconditional presidency by 2030 is leaving a trail of destruction. The international community must be made aware of the constitutional injustices occurring in Zimbabwe and the broader instability he is fostering in the region. Mnangagwa’s obsession with power is dangerous, and he must be stopped before he causes irreparable harm to the entire region.
As a last question: What were SADC thinking when they {passiviely} handed the Chairmanship to Mnangagwa {The drama of that handover is reported here- CLICK LINK} especially in regards to the blatant rigging of the Zimbabwe Elections on 23rd August 2023 as documented by SADC's own team?
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- Written by: All the 50 Zimbabweans and John Burke who were there
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UPDATE: 11th December 2024
Reply from Minister for Africa, Lord Collins {CLICK HERE TO READ/DOWNLOAD}
What a day - what a day!
Zimbabweans arrived from all over, from Glasgow to Cornwall, From Liverpool and Leicester. Just all over. Some set off yesterday to make the DOUBLE Petition - a first from the diaspora.
Chanting outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, which unfortunately has an infestation of CIO's and Zanu stooges. In fact, we have seen on several occassions in the past many (non-Zanu) Zimbabweans, thrown out of their own Embassy - by the UK Diplomatic Protection Police. Due to the gutless yes men and women inside.
But be that as it may it was a great day for the real diaspora - not the fake diaspora that Zanu PF claim to have "on-side", but the real diaspora - who are in opposition to Zanu PF - AND ARE A MAJORITY! Oh, that's why the only way to stop the Zanu fakery is the wide scale DIASPORA VOTE - Something we have campaigned upon for many years (at least since 2018 with Petitions to the UK in 2021) and Chief Ndiweni's REFERENDUM Proposal.
Back to the 24th October 2024. So we left the Zimbabwe Embassy {a big sigh of relief from those inside} around 13:00 to saunter down to our favourite spot besides Field Marshall Montgomery and Opposite Downing Street, where the UK's New Prime Minister is now housed. We had little time to settle before Basil Kamombe had to marshall his crew of 6 men to enter the security gates to Downing Street itself. Each Petitioner was vetted by the Police Diplomatic Unit for Downing Street, against their security checks.
Once through those gates, guarded by armed police {with automatic weapons}, further {airport equivalent} security checks were carreid out on bags, clothing etc. Then the valiant 6 were guided by an extrememly friendly police man {a million miles from their Zanu PF, poorly paid counter parts} who helped them with photographs and the petition hand over.
Both petitions are here at these links to Read/Download:
13:30 Injustice Petition: READ/DOWNLOAD
14:30 Maternal Deaths Petition: READ/DOWNLOAD
Flickr Albums: - 4 separately for convenience:
24th Oct 2024 Videos Take the time to listen to Chief Ndiweni's wise words
24th Oct 2024 General Demonstrations
24th Oct 2024 Injustice Petition Handover