Source: Mugabe bash re-opens old wounds – DailyNews Live 19 January 2017
Jeffrey Muvundusi
BULAWAYO – Opposition political parties and civic organisations have
described as insensitive Zanu PF youth league’s decision to celebrate
President Robert Mugabe’s 93rd birthday in Matobo District, Matabeleland
South, ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Gukurahundi atrocities.
Mugabe’s annual birthday celebrations, which are held amid pomp and
fanfare, will be held at Matopos National Park in Matabeleland South
Province, which is just a few kilometres from Bhalagwe – a flashpoint of
the atrocities which happened between 1983 and 1987.
More than 20 000 civilians died in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces
when government deployed a North Korea-trained army unit, the Fifth
Brigade, to these provinces to fight “insurrection” in a dark period which
became known as Gukurahundi.
Yesterday, the opposition led in condemning the birthday bash which is
organised by Zanu PF youth league yearly under the auspices of the 21st
February Movement.
“As a chairman who works with the people in Mat South, they are saying we
don’t want him (Mugabe) celebrating here. They are saying he should first
apologise for the Gukurahundi sins or go conduct their celebrations in
Zvimba,” raged Pilate Ndebele, chairman of Welshman Ncube-led MDC, in
Matabeleland South.
“This is a serious high level disregard of the people’s feelings. Imagine
just less than 50km from where they want to dine and wine, that’s where a
place called Bhalagwe is, where Mugabe’s government dumped thousands of
bodies in a disused mine.”
Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) secretary-general Mbonisi Gumbo said the
decision by Zanu PF “is in bad taste and an insult to the victims and
survivors of Gukurahundi.”
“As far as we are concerned, there is nothing to celebrate here. Mugabe
and his Zanu PF have caused a lot of untold suffering in Matabeleland. As
we speak there are thousands of dead bodies in Bhalagwe and they are all
Mugabe’s victims,” Gumbo said.
“We are not stupid and forgetful. Just a few years ago, Mugabe insulted us
saying Kalanga people are uneducated and are criminals who only trek down
to South Africa and he never apologised for that.”
“We know Zanu PF has a tendency of force-marching villagers to their
rallies without their consent. And this time around, we encourage our
people to boycott the evil party that is meant to mock them and is meant
to celebrate the success of Gukurahundi genocide. Let all peace-loving
Matabeleland people boycott,” added Gumbo.
The Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC also said it was a classic disrespect.
“The same person who killed our forefathers is back to celebrate his
birthday in a way this is celebrating his victory against the Ndebeles.
“Again this is happening just a few kilometres away from our respected
traditional and sacred spiritual site Njelele. These people really do not
have respect for anyone as long they are ruling,” said Mat South MDC
provincial chair Njemnyama Solani Moyo.
“So these people are telling us that they want to do a lavish bash right
on top of the graves of the people they massacred in cold blood, no this
is unheard of.”
Pressure group Ibhetsu LikaZulu also said they were in the process of
encouraging people not to be intimidated or lured by food and donations to
attend the birthday celebrations.
“It’s an insult to the people of Matopo and Matabeleland in general,”
Mbuso Fuzwayo, the group’s secretary general told the Daily News.
“Mugabe’s birthday is not worth celebrating if you are from Matabeleland
because he led the genocide in Matabeleland. He is so proud that even
today he doesn’t want to just say sorry.
“It is like going to a funeral and start playing wedding songs. Matopo is
a crime scene, where the bones of people from all over Matabeleland are
found, so attending the event is clearly endorsing the killing of our
people,” he forlonly added.
Mugabe’s birthday celebrations this year will be capped by a live musical
gala featuring different artistes.
The nonagenarian’s birthday celebrations have courted strong opinions and
last year his bash attracted widespread condemnation when it was held in
Masvingo at the height of a ravaging famine which left livestock and
impoverished communities needing emergency relief supplies.
A picture of a woman scrounging for crumbs from the high table where
Mugabe and Zanu PF bigwigs were seated, captured long after the party had
ended, caught the attention of the world after it went viral on social
media.
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