The shocking news of his death had reached me by phone through a close colleague while I was in Angola with other civil society colleagues. We had quickly and unanimously resolved that it would be fitting that we travel to Harare to pay our condolences and to bury a gallant son of the soil upon whom Zanu (PF) had posthumously conferred the highest honour of National Hero.
Thousands upon thousands of Zimbabweans from all walks of life thronged the national burial shrine near Warren Park to bid farewell to vice president Joice Mujuru’s late husband.
Leaders from different political parties including Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, deputy prime minister Arthur Mutambara, deputy Prime Minister Khupe, Simba Makoni of the Kusile/Dawn political party and over a dozen MDC ministers were in attendance.
Pigs and dogs
Just before noon President Mugabe launched into some two hours of a rambling, long-winded graveside speech – standing all the time. He touched on several issues including a vicious attack on gays and lesbians, repeating his infamous phrase branding them ‘worse than pigs and dogs.’
The most significant part of his speech was perhaps his public call for peaceful, harmonious co-existence of Zimbabweans from different political parties and persuasions. He said political parties were like church denominations that could be many but all under one God.
He said no to political violence, repeating it three times for emphasis. He said Zimbabweans should be free to belong to any political party, whether Zanu (PF) or MDC and that even within one family, brothers can belong to different political parties and still eat from the same plate.
Conspiracy theories
Mugabe’s call for calm appears to have been driven by a desire to douse the flames of a wild fire of speculation and conspiracy theories about how Mujuru perished in a suspicious fire. The question for many was not whether or not Mujuru had been assassinated, but who had done it and why.
Analysts pointed to Zanu (PF) succession politics, while others pointed to the diamond industry in which Mujuru was heavily involved. State media indicated that the police had launched a full-scale investigation into his death, although the general’s remains were swiftly removed from the scene and now lie buried six-feet under at the national shrine.
Mugabe’s call for peace and non-violence is most welcome. He must now push to ensure an immediate end to state-sanctioned violence and ensure that the police thoroughly investigate all cases of political violence and bring all perpetrators to account for their crimes.
The culture of political violence in Zimbabwe will not be ended merely by grave-side speeches – there is need for robust action against perpetrators of violence. The infrastructure of violence must be dismantled and Zanu (PF) must dispose of all instruments of violence that it controls.
Proclaiming zero tolerance to violence is good, but, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Not only should our leaders speak against violence, they must act against violence. – Dewa Mavhinga, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Regional Coordinator
Post published in: News