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'I was on death row for opposing Gukurahundi' - Jabulani Sibanda
20 Apr 2015 at 14:25hrs | Views
Fired war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda has said he was placed on death row for standing up against the Gukurahundi atrocities.
Sibanda said he is pained by people who want to raise Gukurahundi issues basing on history books narrations.
"People talk about Gukurahundi now when it is quite. I was in Joshua Nkomo office during Zapu as his body guard and Mzila-Ndlovu was in Zapu.
"I was arrested and taken to Chikurubi and placed on the death row, spending time digging up graves and taking pictures of dead people," Sibanda told Bulawayo Agenda meeting in Bulawayo.
Added Sibanda who was visibly angry : "Most people who are talking about Gukurahundi today are talking from history and not from experience.
"They never stood up to fight but I stood up and fought against Gukurahundi for using my camera and arrested for espionage. Anyone can check my records at Chikurubi.
"Trained Zipra cadres never took action. I was on death row for Gukurahundi," fumed Sibanda.
This comes as President Robert Mugabe's spokesperson, George Charamba is quoted saying Mugabe long apologies for the killings.
"I hate people who try and turn the 1980s disturbances into a political football. Those have been atoned for and anyone who brings that argument to bear on the South African situation which is happening to Zimbabweans to me that person is not only cheap but also hypocritical.
"Why is Gukurahundi always raised at a time when there is an issue that is contemporary? That issue was atoned for.
"The President described it as a moment of madness. He was contrite about it. He went the length and breadth of this country with Joshua Nkomo, explaining and apologising to people. I was part of it.
"So don't invoke this argument for convenience simply because you want to shut up the President. You will not shut him up."
Sibanda said he is pained by people who want to raise Gukurahundi issues basing on history books narrations.
"People talk about Gukurahundi now when it is quite. I was in Joshua Nkomo office during Zapu as his body guard and Mzila-Ndlovu was in Zapu.
"I was arrested and taken to Chikurubi and placed on the death row, spending time digging up graves and taking pictures of dead people," Sibanda told Bulawayo Agenda meeting in Bulawayo.
Added Sibanda who was visibly angry : "Most people who are talking about Gukurahundi today are talking from history and not from experience.
"They never stood up to fight but I stood up and fought against Gukurahundi for using my camera and arrested for espionage. Anyone can check my records at Chikurubi.
"Trained Zipra cadres never took action. I was on death row for Gukurahundi," fumed Sibanda.
This comes as President Robert Mugabe's spokesperson, George Charamba is quoted saying Mugabe long apologies for the killings.
"I hate people who try and turn the 1980s disturbances into a political football. Those have been atoned for and anyone who brings that argument to bear on the South African situation which is happening to Zimbabweans to me that person is not only cheap but also hypocritical.
"Why is Gukurahundi always raised at a time when there is an issue that is contemporary? That issue was atoned for.
"The President described it as a moment of madness. He was contrite about it. He went the length and breadth of this country with Joshua Nkomo, explaining and apologising to people. I was part of it.
"So don't invoke this argument for convenience simply because you want to shut up the President. You will not shut him up."
Source - Byo24News
