Opinion / Columnist
Was General Solomon Mujuru assassinated!
17 Aug 2011 at 12:10hrs | Views
There are growing calls for a probe into the suspicious death of General Solomon Mujuru amid fears that the Chimurenga revolution may now be devouring its own sons and daughters.
The key issue here is which authority inspires enough confidence and has credibility to carry out that task in Zimbabwe and probably even in the SADC region itself?
Sadly, there is no tradition of transparency in Zanu-PF and that seems to have rubbed on to current Zimbabwe Government. For instance, in addition to massacres and torture camps, all suspicious deaths and even known assassinations have gone un-investigated or unreported by the Mugabe regime.
Notable suspicious deaths of key politicians and guerrilla leaders include those of Herbert Chitepo, General Josiah Tongogara, Lieutenant General Lookout Masuku, Mrs Susan Tsvangirai wife of MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai, Cde Edgar Tekere who said in his book he was poisoned so as to die slowly (Kafiramberi) and so on.
According to media sources, Morgan Tsvangirai believed that the accident that killed his wife Susan and injured him was an assassination attempt and told Botswana President Ian Khama (Zimbabwe Metro.com, 04/05/09). No probe was launched.
Mystery surrounding General Mujuru's sudden suspicious death is compounded by a reference in Fay Chung's book to a fire which started in Mujuru's hotel room on the 4th floor in Geneva where he was attending a Conference on Zimbabwe as commander of the ZANLA guerrillas (New Zimbabwe, 16/08/11). General Mujuru survived that fire although Zanu-PF has not yet disclosed any findings assuming it was investigated.
It was also disappointing to note that General Solomon Mujuru had to seize a farm/s when the Government should have properly rewarded all generals of the liberation movement with lawfully purchased farms soon after independence as funds were still available. Strangely, Mugabe's family now allegedly controls 39 farms (Daily Mail, 03/08/11).
There are so many questions that need to be answered to dispel rumours that General Mujuru may have been murdered before his house was set on fire. It goes without saying that Gen Mujuru had enemies especially within Zanu-PF who may be shedding crocodile tears right now. From the little information trickling out of Zimbabwe, the retired General's security appears not to have been adequate.
Ironically, ZRP Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri reportedly had more than 20 armed police officers in riot gear during his tour of Bulawayo in July last year when his 'kilometre long motorcade' allegedly brought business to a standstill in the city (RadioVop, 22/07/10. One wonders what criteria is used to provide security cover for VIPs in Zimbabwe.
In view of Zanu-PF's factionalism, which is threatening the party with implosion, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Military Police, the Zimbabwe National Army and the Central Intelligence Organisation lack credibility and don't inspire confidence to professionally probe the tragic death of General Mujuru on Monday 15 August 2011.
What further undermines trust in the Zimbabwe Government is the fact that at a time when people were expecting the Mugabe regime to order forensic investigations into the Chibondo skeletons some of which had fluids suggesting the victims did not die 30 years ago, Zanu-PF is defying world opinion by re-burying them thereby tempering with potentially incriminating evidence.
The Mugabe regime cannot be trusted. Neither, is SADC credible enough to handle the sensitive role because its participant, the South African Government is holding on to an explosive report of the political violence that engulfed Zimbabwe's elections despite two court orders for its release to the Mail and Guardian newspaper.
The only credible police authority that can command enough international respect and confidence is Interpol. People are very bitter at the sudden death of one of Zimbabwe's finest sons and distinguished guerrilla leader of the liberation struggle, the charismatic Comrade Rex Nhongo.
It remains to be seen how the coalition government in Harare is going to respond to public demands for a thorough investigation without haste.
Was General Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru assassinated? May his soul rest in peace.
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Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
The key issue here is which authority inspires enough confidence and has credibility to carry out that task in Zimbabwe and probably even in the SADC region itself?
Sadly, there is no tradition of transparency in Zanu-PF and that seems to have rubbed on to current Zimbabwe Government. For instance, in addition to massacres and torture camps, all suspicious deaths and even known assassinations have gone un-investigated or unreported by the Mugabe regime.
Notable suspicious deaths of key politicians and guerrilla leaders include those of Herbert Chitepo, General Josiah Tongogara, Lieutenant General Lookout Masuku, Mrs Susan Tsvangirai wife of MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai, Cde Edgar Tekere who said in his book he was poisoned so as to die slowly (Kafiramberi) and so on.
According to media sources, Morgan Tsvangirai believed that the accident that killed his wife Susan and injured him was an assassination attempt and told Botswana President Ian Khama (Zimbabwe Metro.com, 04/05/09). No probe was launched.
Mystery surrounding General Mujuru's sudden suspicious death is compounded by a reference in Fay Chung's book to a fire which started in Mujuru's hotel room on the 4th floor in Geneva where he was attending a Conference on Zimbabwe as commander of the ZANLA guerrillas (New Zimbabwe, 16/08/11). General Mujuru survived that fire although Zanu-PF has not yet disclosed any findings assuming it was investigated.
It was also disappointing to note that General Solomon Mujuru had to seize a farm/s when the Government should have properly rewarded all generals of the liberation movement with lawfully purchased farms soon after independence as funds were still available. Strangely, Mugabe's family now allegedly controls 39 farms (Daily Mail, 03/08/11).
There are so many questions that need to be answered to dispel rumours that General Mujuru may have been murdered before his house was set on fire. It goes without saying that Gen Mujuru had enemies especially within Zanu-PF who may be shedding crocodile tears right now. From the little information trickling out of Zimbabwe, the retired General's security appears not to have been adequate.
Ironically, ZRP Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri reportedly had more than 20 armed police officers in riot gear during his tour of Bulawayo in July last year when his 'kilometre long motorcade' allegedly brought business to a standstill in the city (RadioVop, 22/07/10. One wonders what criteria is used to provide security cover for VIPs in Zimbabwe.
In view of Zanu-PF's factionalism, which is threatening the party with implosion, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Military Police, the Zimbabwe National Army and the Central Intelligence Organisation lack credibility and don't inspire confidence to professionally probe the tragic death of General Mujuru on Monday 15 August 2011.
What further undermines trust in the Zimbabwe Government is the fact that at a time when people were expecting the Mugabe regime to order forensic investigations into the Chibondo skeletons some of which had fluids suggesting the victims did not die 30 years ago, Zanu-PF is defying world opinion by re-burying them thereby tempering with potentially incriminating evidence.
The Mugabe regime cannot be trusted. Neither, is SADC credible enough to handle the sensitive role because its participant, the South African Government is holding on to an explosive report of the political violence that engulfed Zimbabwe's elections despite two court orders for its release to the Mail and Guardian newspaper.
The only credible police authority that can command enough international respect and confidence is Interpol. People are very bitter at the sudden death of one of Zimbabwe's finest sons and distinguished guerrilla leader of the liberation struggle, the charismatic Comrade Rex Nhongo.
It remains to be seen how the coalition government in Harare is going to respond to public demands for a thorough investigation without haste.
Was General Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru assassinated? May his soul rest in peace.
------------------------
Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
Source - Clifford Chitupa Mashiri
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