News / Local
Mugabe insults, mock Matabeleland on Gukurahundi
18 Jan 2017 at 23:29hrs | Views
Matabeleland pressure groups and opposition political parties have labeled President Robert Mugabe as an insensitive old man who has insulted the region.
Mugabe has controversially picked to celebrate his 93rd birthday party at Matopos National Park, a few yards from a mass grave of people killed during the massacres in the 1980s.
Bhalagwe has become synonymous with the 1980s killings, as the camp was allegedly turned into torture chambers that saw scores of people being killed and buried in shallow graves.
"It is inhuman for Zanu PF to be seen celebrating in an area where there are bones of innocent people" Mbuso Fuzwayo, of the Ibhetshu Likazulu pressure group said.
"This only shows lack of remorse, considering that Zanu PF and its leaders are accused of having been behind the massacres. Matobo people have also lost their ancestral land, but government has not intervened to help them.
Vocal MDC Matabeleland South provincial chairperson, Pilate Ndebele said holding the feast in Matobo would be an insult to the spirits of the dead, which have not been appeased.
"It is an insult because some of the people accused of the genocide will be part of this party, while thousands continue to mourn decades on.
"How do you celebrate a party at a funeral?".
However, according to a NewsDay report, Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs Kudzanai Chipanga said the party is not worried with the accusations saying Zanu PF seek to grow domestic tourism.
"This is our event to which they are welcome if interested. They can stay away and plan their own for their leaders if they so wish. But our choice of venue is informed by the desire to grow domestic tourism. You can check our record in the past few years,".
Mugabe has controversially picked to celebrate his 93rd birthday party at Matopos National Park, a few yards from a mass grave of people killed during the massacres in the 1980s.
Bhalagwe has become synonymous with the 1980s killings, as the camp was allegedly turned into torture chambers that saw scores of people being killed and buried in shallow graves.
"It is inhuman for Zanu PF to be seen celebrating in an area where there are bones of innocent people" Mbuso Fuzwayo, of the Ibhetshu Likazulu pressure group said.
"This only shows lack of remorse, considering that Zanu PF and its leaders are accused of having been behind the massacres. Matobo people have also lost their ancestral land, but government has not intervened to help them.
"It is an insult because some of the people accused of the genocide will be part of this party, while thousands continue to mourn decades on.
"How do you celebrate a party at a funeral?".
However, according to a NewsDay report, Zanu PF secretary for youth affairs Kudzanai Chipanga said the party is not worried with the accusations saying Zanu PF seek to grow domestic tourism.
"This is our event to which they are welcome if interested. They can stay away and plan their own for their leaders if they so wish. But our choice of venue is informed by the desire to grow domestic tourism. You can check our record in the past few years,".
Source - Byo24News
