(Pictured: Another year older and President Robert Mugabe shows signs that he may not make it through his all-night gala this weekend)
BULAWAYO – A Matabeleland-based pressure group, Ibetshu LikaZulu, which fights for compensation for relatives of Gukurahundi victims, has criticized Zanu (PF) for holding President Robert Mugabes birthday celebrations here, saying he should apologize first.
Mugabe turned 86 on Sunday and the 21st Movement, a group founded by Zanu (PF) youths, is making preparations for a musical gala at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds here this Saturday.
Speaking to The Zimbabwean, Ibetshu LikaZulu chairman, Qhubekani Dube, said it was an insult to the people of Matabeleland who lost their relatives during 
Gukurahundi massacres to have the perpetrator holding his birthday celebrations in the region.
We cant have the perpetrator of the massacres holding his birthday party here, its an insult. At least he should have apologized first, said Dube.
Over 20 000 civilians were killed by the North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade soldiers in Gukurahundi massacres in the late 1980s .The Zanu (PF) government claimed it was a counter-insurgency operation against PF Zapu dissidents.
Mugabe is yet to apologize for the disturbances despite the fact Zanu (PF) and PF Zapu in 1987 became a united party. The closest he came to offering an apology was when he described the Gukurahundi era as a “moment of madness”.
Dube said his group had already planned a demonstration to counter Mugabes birthday bash on Saturday.
With the support of relatives of Gukurahundi victims we are going to hold a peaceful demonstration in the city centre to counter Mugabes musical gala, he said.
Post published in: News