Opinion / Columnist
Why is everyone good when they die 'Mujuru the good'!
20 Aug 2011 at 19:53hrs | Views
When somebody dies, we all tend to say good things about them. When somebody says something bad, they are said to be disrespectful.
The sentences of praise always start with "…We have learnt with shock about the untimely death of so and so"…and so on and so on. Some are saying that about the late ex-military man, Solomon Mujuru. Some even went around saying "…he was a true servant of the people…and his death is a great loss to the entire nation".
The man himself…..
Okay, let us look at this "good" man and see what he did for his people. He fought in the Liberation struggle, becoming a commander of Zanla forces. He became the first black General in Zimbabwe's new army. Amongst his work noted by Zimbabweans was in his early years as the army boss when he walked away and ignored the killings in Matabeleland and Midlands in 1983. Over 20,000 law‑abiding Matabeles were massacred by his comrades under the 5th Brigade machinery.
He is meant to have led a successful army against the RENAMO in Mozambique. Above all, he was credited for building a strong army which some praise for its controversial work across Southern Africa. Some emphasise how he built a business empire for himself, obviously employing poor Zimbabweans. But others say he bullied people to acquire his wealth: the River Ranch Mine, the farms he had. He eventually died on Monday in one of those farms. And until his death he was a satisfied and committed member of Zanu PF; a party that presided over mass beatings, mass torture, mass killings and mass disappearances of innocent civilians in Zimbabwe.
So this is good? "Hell NO", others say!
Not only did Facebook break the news of Mujuru's death, it also went on to share views expressed by many about the life and death of Solomon Mujuru. I shared the positive side (well mostly) above and now let us give others a chance to express their views. It is democracy after all, is it not?
The following comments are extracted from Facebook friends of mine. "…Confirmed: The farmhouse in which fire 'hellishly' stole Gukurahundist Solomon Mujuru's life was brutally stolen from a bhunu (white farmer)…Oh, karma you can't be such a vengeful bitch! Kli kli kli kli Oops…I note that those who benefitted from his satanic fire activities are mourning. How could they?" These are people whose parents and relatives were killed under Mujuru's leadership and now they can say it without fear, ventilating their bottled feelings over 31 years of Zanu-PF and Mugabe's misrule. We love Facebook democracy, thanks Mr Zuckenberg! "Who is next to be killed?" others are asking in the same forum as well as "Who has done it?" I will leave it to you to make your comments and conclusions.
…and now, let us predict the life of Zanu-PF,
Some have concluded that Mujuru's death will intensify the succession battles in Zanu-PF. Some say there will be revenge, since they believe he was eliminated for a purpose by his opponents. One even suggested that "Morgan is finished" – I wonder how he fits in this whole thing?! Mujuru's death means more diamonds for someone else – was that the motivation? What do I think? I don't know because over the years I have heard many people predicting things for Zanu-PF that never materialised. So I will keep speaking out until they stop killing and beating people. I have noted with excitement, though, that even the so called strong and dangerous men like Sydney Sekeramai, cry like babies on television. This gives me hope that change may come soon.
And my conclusions are…
"To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it.": – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: (1929-1968), US civil rights leader. With this quote, I can express my own feelings about Mujuru, the man who epitomised a political party that murdered my friend, Maxwell Ncube, who was buried yesterday.
So what do you say?
The sentences of praise always start with "…We have learnt with shock about the untimely death of so and so"…and so on and so on. Some are saying that about the late ex-military man, Solomon Mujuru. Some even went around saying "…he was a true servant of the people…and his death is a great loss to the entire nation".
The man himself…..
Okay, let us look at this "good" man and see what he did for his people. He fought in the Liberation struggle, becoming a commander of Zanla forces. He became the first black General in Zimbabwe's new army. Amongst his work noted by Zimbabweans was in his early years as the army boss when he walked away and ignored the killings in Matabeleland and Midlands in 1983. Over 20,000 law‑abiding Matabeles were massacred by his comrades under the 5th Brigade machinery.
He is meant to have led a successful army against the RENAMO in Mozambique. Above all, he was credited for building a strong army which some praise for its controversial work across Southern Africa. Some emphasise how he built a business empire for himself, obviously employing poor Zimbabweans. But others say he bullied people to acquire his wealth: the River Ranch Mine, the farms he had. He eventually died on Monday in one of those farms. And until his death he was a satisfied and committed member of Zanu PF; a party that presided over mass beatings, mass torture, mass killings and mass disappearances of innocent civilians in Zimbabwe.
So this is good? "Hell NO", others say!
The following comments are extracted from Facebook friends of mine. "…Confirmed: The farmhouse in which fire 'hellishly' stole Gukurahundist Solomon Mujuru's life was brutally stolen from a bhunu (white farmer)…Oh, karma you can't be such a vengeful bitch! Kli kli kli kli Oops…I note that those who benefitted from his satanic fire activities are mourning. How could they?" These are people whose parents and relatives were killed under Mujuru's leadership and now they can say it without fear, ventilating their bottled feelings over 31 years of Zanu-PF and Mugabe's misrule. We love Facebook democracy, thanks Mr Zuckenberg! "Who is next to be killed?" others are asking in the same forum as well as "Who has done it?" I will leave it to you to make your comments and conclusions.
…and now, let us predict the life of Zanu-PF,
Some have concluded that Mujuru's death will intensify the succession battles in Zanu-PF. Some say there will be revenge, since they believe he was eliminated for a purpose by his opponents. One even suggested that "Morgan is finished" – I wonder how he fits in this whole thing?! Mujuru's death means more diamonds for someone else – was that the motivation? What do I think? I don't know because over the years I have heard many people predicting things for Zanu-PF that never materialised. So I will keep speaking out until they stop killing and beating people. I have noted with excitement, though, that even the so called strong and dangerous men like Sydney Sekeramai, cry like babies on television. This gives me hope that change may come soon.
And my conclusions are…
"To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it.": – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: (1929-1968), US civil rights leader. With this quote, I can express my own feelings about Mujuru, the man who epitomised a political party that murdered my friend, Maxwell Ncube, who was buried yesterday.
So what do you say?
Source - hararesunset
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