Gukurahundi: If he didn’t support it then why didn’t he prevent it!

In 1987 the once loved Zimbabwean ruling party, ZANU PF, unleashed a ruthless inhuman operation in the southern provinces of Zimbabwe, an operation called Gukurahundi which refers to the first rains of the rainy season, the rains that wash all the dirt in the land. But after the man made ZANU PF rain there was no clean ground, there was no water, but there was blood, tears and dead bodies. A North Korean trained army brigade crushed a "rebellion" by the people in a southern province Matebeleland, killing an estimated 20 000 unarmed people.

In 1987 the commander of the Zimbabwe Armed Forces was a man called Solomon Mujuru, the late Solomon Mujuru. Many describe Mujuru as a hero and as a kind hearted man. When the popular leader of what was once an opposition party in Zimbabwe was badly beaten by Zimbabwe's police, Mujuru visited him in hospital drawing the anger of Robert Mugabe and hard-line members of his ZANU PF party. There are many other events that testify of his kindness and to some extent, Gukurahundi. According to reports Mujuru disapproved of the operation. He decided not to be a part of the operation and refused to authorize the army`s involvement to crush the rebellion. Some say that is why a separate brigade was trained in North Korea. Mujuru himself never made any public statement about the operation.

Now that Mujuru has died unexpectedly, before a new and democratic Zimbabwe that is coming soon, there are many questions that need to be answered and there are many questions as to who will answer them. If he was still a hero and if he disapproved of the operation, then why did he not stop it? He was the commander of the army and had more men than the brigade. True heroes do not fold their hands in the wake of injustices. As commander in chief, his role was to protect the civilians. If he did not have the authority then why did he not resign? If these men were not part of his army and were carrying guns to kill the people of Zimbabwe then way did he not fight them? Mujuru did not authorize the operation with his words but with in inaction he did.

Before his death, deep in his heart, he knew he had lost his hero status hence his commitment to ensuring that Zimbabwe is restored into a true democracy. He had a plan, a plan that would see the least bloodshed in a Zimbabwean transformation to democracy, but unfortunately he died before he could implement it. He was going to change ZANU PF from within. In his heart he was a man determined to be a hero again, not in people's eyes but in his own eyes. However his good motives can be questioned again, again and again. His life was a puzzle. He has taken part in many injustices that were done to the people of Zimbabwe in the last decade. He was said to own many companies and farms that he wrestled from others without payment. He was the main dealer in Zimbabwe`s diamonds, diamonds mined amid gross human right violations.

One thing is true though, that the life of thousands of people where in General Mujuru's hands and he decided to do nothing. But because he died trying to fix things, I give the 5 star general a three star hero status. I hope his soul rests in peace and by rest in peace I mean he find a good answer to the 20 000 souls that are waiting for him on the other side. I hope he died with Christ in his heart because only the Son of God can save his from the vengeful souls.

The Writer,
The Promises Of My People, Letters with A Tear Drop