HARARE -- President Robert Mugabe has posthumously conferred medals of honour on two top army officers alleged to have been assassinated in 2007 for allegedly plotting to stage a coup against the 85-year old leader. Mugabe, whose Zanu (PF) party has nominated to remain at the helm for another five years, awarded the Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit Medal to the late Brigadier Generals, Armstrong Paul Gunda and Fakazi Muleya who died within a space of two weeks and were declared national heroes.
A total of 41 senior military officers, received the medals, four posthumously as Mugabe continues to buy loyalty from the armed forces by decorating them with medals.
Gundas widow, Tendai and her children have among many Zimbabweans insisted
that the Brigadier General died under murky circumstances.
The Zimbabwe National Army recently issued a statement announcing that a board of inquiry had established that there was no foul play concerning the death of Gunda.
Mugabe has in the past made what have been described as insensitive awards like in 2008 when he awarded the Grand Commander of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit, the highest military honours to the architects of the Gukurahundi genocide, Air Marshal Perrence Shiri and Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, Constantine Chiwenga.
Shiri was the founding commander in 1981 of the murderous Fifth Brigade which raped and murdered civilians in the Midlands and Matabeleland until he was transferred to the Air Force in 1984.
He was replaced as commander by Chiwenga who in 1981 was commander of One
Brigade and replaced Shiri as commander of Fifth Brigade in 1984. One Brigade was one of several military camps used as a launch pad to terrorise civilians in the Midlands and Matabeleland in the 1980s.
On Defence Forces Day, Gundas family paid more than US$800 to place a full colour half page advert in the state-controlled newspaper, The Herald, to make their feelings known.
We as the Gunda family will be receiving your medal which you worked for the rest of your life. We salute you Comrade Gunda. We love you.
The family quoted a verse from the Bible, which it said he read a lot. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.
The family, which is facing eviction from a ZNA house in Bulawayo, amid threats to repossess vehicles which belonged to her husband said it found protection in God.
This verse tells me that whatever happens in my life, I must always speak with God, even when my enemies try to attack, I always refer to this verse, because I know that God is always on my side.
I have also learnt that if you are filled with fear, you become afraid of (the) challenge of life…
Post published in: News