News / National
Kezi villager irked by presence of soldiers in the area
26 Feb 2016 at 05:56hrs | Views
Villagers in the Kezi area which was during the 1980s seriously affected by Gukurahundi are still pondering over the reasons of the deployment of soldiers in the area recently who are said to be camped at the Balagwe village.
According to Khanyisani Mafa Mdawini scores of members of the Zimbabwe National Army stormed into the Balagwe Village, the Kezi area of Matobo District, in Matabeleland South striking fear among the villagers.
"The armed men are at present camped at the place, a correspondent narrates.
During the Gukurahundi disturbances in the early 80's Balagwe Village, was one of those that suffered the worst of the atrocities as it was the centre of the soldiers' concentration camp. This was then the same place where hundreds of people were killed and thrown into disused mine shafts at Balagwe mine," he posted on Facebook.
He said the mines remain untouched since that period.
"The unexplained sudden return of heavily armed soldiers into the village has sent terror and fear among the community as they remember the Gukurahundi days," he said.
"A numbers of village have started fleeing their homes to take refuge in Bulawayo claiming fear of part two of Gukurahundi. Community leaders in the area refused to comment on the matter for fear of victimisation. At the time of writing, a comment from the ZNA could not be obtained."
According to Khanyisani Mafa Mdawini scores of members of the Zimbabwe National Army stormed into the Balagwe Village, the Kezi area of Matobo District, in Matabeleland South striking fear among the villagers.
"The armed men are at present camped at the place, a correspondent narrates.
During the Gukurahundi disturbances in the early 80's Balagwe Village, was one of those that suffered the worst of the atrocities as it was the centre of the soldiers' concentration camp. This was then the same place where hundreds of people were killed and thrown into disused mine shafts at Balagwe mine," he posted on Facebook.
He said the mines remain untouched since that period.
"The unexplained sudden return of heavily armed soldiers into the village has sent terror and fear among the community as they remember the Gukurahundi days," he said.
"A numbers of village have started fleeing their homes to take refuge in Bulawayo claiming fear of part two of Gukurahundi. Community leaders in the area refused to comment on the matter for fear of victimisation. At the time of writing, a comment from the ZNA could not be obtained."
Source - Byo24News
