This thuggery has now spread throughout the country and has invoked fears of the return of Gukurahundi – especially in the light of the involvement of Perence Shiri, the former commander of 5th Brigade in Matabeleland, who is reportedly spearheading the terror campaign in Manicaland.
In any civilised country, the defence forces are there to protect the citizens – not to terrorise them. When such a thing happens the international has a responsibility to come to the aid of the defenceless.
How much does it take to force SADC, Africa and the world to stop talking and start acting? Are they waiting for Rwanda again? Or another massacre on the same scale as Gukurahundi?
Mugabe managed, back in the 1980s, to keep Gukurahundi under wraps. That will not happen again this time. Nobody can say they are unaware of what has been happening in Zimbabwe since Mugabe and his generals realised they had lost the March 29 elections to Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC.
South African president, Thabo Mbeki, knows perhaps even more than most just what is going on in Zimbabwe. He has had a briefing from his generals – who no doubt understand the language of military men and who saw for themselves the evidence of the violence.
This violence has respected no boundaries whatsoever, its victims range from babies to grandmothers, and all those in between. It has been savage and barbaric. It has made no distinctions between tribe, race, gender or age.
Zanu (PF)’s responsibility for all of this is indisputable. It’s aim is clear – to terrorise Zimbabweans into reversing their rejection of Robert Mugabe and voting for him in the presidential run-off.
Together with police commissioner Chihuri’s orders to all policemen and their families to register for postal voting, this renders the whole run-off election process null and void. It is obviously being rigged right under our very noses. Members of the entire police force have had their votes stolen from them by Chihuri. Surely SADC must have something to say about this?
Or is this too much to hope for? -Â given that this esteemed regional body declared the March elections free and fair despite the fact that both major contestants, MDC and Zanu (PF) have complained that they were rigged.
Word:
The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever. – Psalm 37