Mujuru was opposed to Gukurahundi says Ncube

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE THE late national hero General Solomon Mujuru did not play any part in the Gukurahundi atrocities that claimed an estimated 20 000 lives in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces, MDC leader Welshman Ncube said on Friday. Government deployed the North Korean trained 5 Brigade soon after independence ostensibly to deal with an insurgence. But human rights groups say the soldiers targeted supporters of the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo and his Zapu party. Mujuru was the commander of the army at the time but his close associates say he was sidelined when 5 Brigade was set up and deployed. “He (Mujuru) refused to let the army be used for Gukurahundi because he had worked with Zipra leaders, the likes of Joshua Nkomo and Dumiso Dabengwa who to him remained comrades in arms,” Ncube said. “He urged that no military action should be taken against Nkomo. “Even though he was in charge of the army he distanced himself from Gukurahundi that is why the 5 Brigade reported directly to Mugabe.” Ncube added that even when stronger opposition parties like the MDC were formed at the turn of the century the late Mujuru never insulted or condemned the parties verbally or called for their supporters to be brutalised.

Mugabe changes tact, calls for calm

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE AND CAIPHAS CHIMHETE President Robert Mugabe yesterday appealed for peace and tolerance after thousands of people from across the political divide thronged the National Heroes Acre for the burial of former army commander Solomon Mujuru. Mujuru died on Tuesday after his farm house in Beatrice was gutted by fire, sparking speculation that he was murdered. Mugabe deviated from his speech to give counsel to his supporters who constantly booed Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and deputy prime ministers Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe. He said there was no need to fight as Zimbabweans were one. “Lets create peace. We are very happy that over the past few months there have been remarkable peace,” he said. Mugabe said people must be free to choose leaders of their choice during elections. Mugabe said Mujuru was a unifier as he was instrumental in forging a united defence force soon after independence. “He sought to bring about a difference, a change of fortune and fate in the lives of black Zimbabweans for too long occupied, for too long oppressed, suppressed and sidelined in the affairs of their country,” he said. He said Mujuru was a symbol of the struggle, a figure of rich memories and inspiration. The veteran ruler described Mujuru as a legend who had managed to capture the respect and collective grief of the whole nation Mugabe also refrained from reading his prepared speech that appeared more combative with the Zanu PF sanctions mantra dominating. Part of the prepared speech read: “Above all, Rex shunned sanctions as a form of assault on the people of Zimababwe. “He was with us when we organised the anti-sanctions campaign. He signed the petition. “He denounced those sanctions and those behind them. How do you shed genuine tears for Rex when you stand opposed to the very ideals for which he fought and struggled? “How do you claim him and his legacy when you stand against his cause and the cause of the very people whose grievances motivated him? “How do you claim him today when you traffic with those he traded bullets with only yesterday?” Meanwhile, an estimated record crowd of 50 000 was at the national shrine. For the first time in many years Zanu PF did not have to bus people to attend the burial as was the norm when they bury other heroes at the shrine. Zimbabweans from all walks of life and political affiliation came in their thousands to bid farewell to the late general. Some people were perched in trees to enable them to follow proceedings while cars had to be parked at the National Sports Stadium and along Bulawayo road. People had to walk almost 2 km to the national shrine. Among those that attended were opposition leaders Dumiso Dabengwa, Tsvangirai, Khupe, Speaker of Parliament Lovemore Moyo, Welshman Ncube and Arthur Mutambara. Cabinet ministers from the three governing parties also attended.

Rex’s prophetic interview

Sunday, 21 August 2011

Sunday Mail 

  

Comrades-in-arms . . . Zipra commander Lookout Masuku (left) and then Zanla deputy commander Rex Nhongo on their return to Zimbabwe in 1979 after organising and leading the liberation struggle from outside the country.

In 1978, the late Retired General Solomon Mujuru  (known then as Rex Nhongo) was Zanu’s deputy defence secretary. Below we publish an interview he had with Tempo Magazine in Maputo, Mozambique, in December of that year. The interview was conducted in the heat of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
Tempo: In your opinion, what is the current state of the Rhodesian military following the latest destabilising campaigns by the Zimbabwean combatants, particularly the fire that recently destroyed Salisbury’s reserve fuel tanks?
Rex Nhongo: Smith’s regime is desperate. Our power is increasing as a result of popular support. The people of Zimbabwe are behind the armed struggle. Only two days ago, Smith, himself, just admitted in a radio and television transmission that his troops are already facing considerable challenges in containing the numerous actions by the combatants.
In addition to this, the masses and even the international community are beginning to understand the necessity of an armed struggle. However, information on our progress is often under-reported to outsiders as our information channels are not yet within our control. For example, our fighters have already attacked Umtali three times, information which is not available to the public.
Tempo:  The Smith government recently issued a public threat to the Government of the People’s Republic of Mozambique. It has vowed to execute violent attacks against Mozambique and to massacre ordinary citizens if the Mozambican government continues to support the Patriotic Front. What do you think about such a threat?
Rex Nhongo: This threat will not change anything. This threat is nothing new for us because Smith’s army has already been attacking the Mozambican people. It has been massacring the population since 1976; we have proof of this in Mapai, Changara, Mavue and other cases committed last week such as the attack on the Province of Sofala. This is nothing more than intimidation.
Tempo: Justin Nyoka, the Zimbabwean journalist who just spent three months in Zimbabwe with the Zanla forces, brought us important information on the liberated zones in Zimbabwe. As a fighter yourself, can you tell us what these liberated zones are?
Rex Nhongo: Liberated zones are areas where the enemy does not enter, zones within which the enemy can never be sighted. Of course when a free zone is discovered, it is immediately bombed by planes. But they are areas where the enemy troops do not venture. The morale of the combatants in these areas is very high. They have no doubt whatsoever that we will soon achieve victory.
Tempo: Can you explain to us from a politico-military perspective, the process which leads to the creation of a free zone?
Rex Nhongo: The first thing that we do when we get to an area which we know to be in the control of our forces, is to gather the civilian population in the area.
We then begin by giving clear explanations of our position. Why the armed struggle?! Then we make concerted efforts to remain with the masses. We stay together with them so that they will not alert the enemy agents. Isolating ourselves from the local populations would be our undoing. The same principle holds in the military camp.
Once our objective of sensitising the masses on the need for an armed struggle is achieved, the people themselves begin to ask to be armed.
After this we have a process of consolidating the free zones into the ideological and social framework. This begins with a session of political discussion with the people which is organised by our political commissars. It then continues through the creation of health centres, schools, etc.
As far as organising means of production in these liberated areas, we already have some co-operatives, but are currently faced with the challenge of defending them against air attacks.
Tempo: Zanu has just revealed that Zanla forces will soon mount a major offensive. Can you give us some general information on the new strategy that will be applied in this offensive?
Rex Nhongo: First of all, we will strongly descend on the only areas which are not liberated, the eastern horn. We will then proceed to the fundamental strategy of this offensive: the isolation of the enemy in the cities through the destruction of all avenues of communication.
To accomplish this, we will attempt to cut all roads and railway lines, as well as the telephone lines linking different cities. We will thus control all the land area leaving Smith with only the air space under his control. As far as the cities are concerned, we do not anticipate sophisticated defences.
Meanwhile we also have combatants inside the cities — factory workers — who we always keep informed on what is happening in the cities. Sometimes we also create conducive conditions for the entry of some groups of combatants.
Tempo: Infiltration by enemy agents in popular forces is a problem that is faced by many revolutionary movements. Can you tell us if this is a concern at the stage you are in?
Rex Nhongo: Infiltration is also a serious problem in Zanla, but it is not a problem that can stop the war.
Tempo: How do you think Smith will react when he finds that his defeat is imminent?
Rex Nhongo: I think we will have serious problems when that happens. He has already begun massacring populations, Zimbabwean civilians, in the hundreds.
I think he will then try to sabotage the economy. He will use napalm bombs everywhere. He will also conduct chemical warfare.
At this time, fear will grip the masses and they will begin to ask themselves who to support. But after a few months, they will hear that Smith has fled.

Go well dad, our best friend

Sunday, 21 August 2011

 

By Phyllis Kachere

THE late General Solomon Mujuru’s daughters from left Kuzivakwashe 22, Nyasha Del Campo 28, Chipo Makoni 32 and Kumbirai Mujuru found time to share a lighter moment at their home in Chisipite last week.

“HAVING been daddy’s little girl since birth, I would literally get away with murder with him. It was an unwritten expectation in our household that I could do as I wished and no one expected daddy to be angry with me no matter what.
“But when I told him during a little tiff with one of my siblings that I was no longer his little girl, I realised I had hurt my best friend, the one that I could talk to about anything with. I had never seen him that dejected.”
As she described the soft and nurturing side of the late national hero and a key architect of the liberation war General Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mujuru, his last daughter Kuzivakwashe Mujuru fought back tears that threatened to flood her face.
“The dejection on his face told it all. I had hurt him. And his stammering did not help him either,” 22-year-old Kuzivakwashe told The Sunday Mail at the family home in Chisipite, Harare, on Wednesday.
“He always referred to Sis Kumbi (referring to Gen Mujuru’s eldest daughter Kumbirai Mujuru) as vahanzvadzi. He said Sis Kumbi reminded him of his sister and it was va-va-vahanzvadzi throughout when it came to Sis Kumbi,” chipped in Mrs Chipo Makoni (32), who is his second daughter.
It was sad to know that as the Mujuru girls buried their dear father yesterday, it was Chipo’s birthday.
“All that I know about bicycles and men, I learnt from him. Yes, to others he was a battle-hardened soldier, but to us he remained a soft father. He never brought his military discipline to us. The humblest man I have ever known, he taught us to be humble,” said Kumbirai.
Chipo said General Mujuru was full of humour and sometimes was sarcastic, but he never meant it in a malicious way.
“Down-to-earth, this best describes this man everybody calls General. He taught us humility and never to judge other people. He would stand in a queue and would never try to jump the queue,” said Chipo.
For his third daughter Mrs Nyasha Del Campo, Gen Mujuru had a great sense of humour.
“It is a great honour to have had him as a father. I had daily access to him. Always there and always having solutions to all sorts of problems. I am heartbroken,” said Mrs Del Campo.
She said Gen Mujuru taught them to be humble as he himself was.
“He would go and play draughts with the poorest in Dzivaresekwa. No one will ever match his humility.
And for va-va-vahanzvadzi Kumbirai Mujuru (33) Gen Mujuru always had a soft spot for his daughters.
“We had this room always filled with sweets and he would just come and say out of the blue, ‘Va-va-na-a-angu (mimicking his stammer) huyai tidye maswiti (My children, come let’s eat sweets).
“He would reward success and discourage failure. He never berated us when we failed in an endeavour. Above all, he never kept grudges. Even when we got married he never demanded outrageous lobola for us,” said Kumbirai.
“He was a very forgetful man, perhaps that explained why he never kept grudges. When he eventually remembered you had wronged him, he would go, ‘Ha-a-a-. gara zviya wakanditadziraka iwe’ (Oh by the way, you wronged me) and then he would burst into laughter. One would know all is forgiven,” said Nyasha.
The girls said Gen Mujuru never expected any of them to join him in his military career.
“But if there was one who could have become a soldier amongst us, it would be Nyasha. She has a kind of military discipline in her,” chorused the Mujuru girls all too aware that dear dad was gone.-The Sunday Mail

The Sunday Mail

Mujuru unified all in life and in death

Sunday, 21 August 2011

  

General Solomon Mujuru, who was laid to rest at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare yesterday, has united the people in a manner that has made everyone proud to be Zimbabwean.
Yes we are saddened that he is gone, but here is his enduring legacy: he united our freedom fighters during the struggle, he united our liberation armies at Independence, and, now, even as we mourn this brave strategist, Gen Mujuru has captured the respect and collective grief of the entire nation.
At the national shrine as the nation bade farewell to the Commander of Commanders, all the political parties were represented.
Refreshingly, it did not matter whether you were Zanu-PF, MDC, MDC-T or Zapu. They all came, in their thousands.
Cde Rex was a great unifier.
Let this be a lesson to every politician out there. A divided nation is a weak nation. As Zimbabweans, we have wasted too much time squabbling, insulting and fighting each other.
There are many lessons for everyone here.
Gen Mujuru decided, at a tender age, to fight racist oppression. When it became clear to him that the fascist regime would not heed the people’s call for majority rule, Cde Rex took up arms and fought alongside others to dismantle the evil system.
The late 1970s was a tempestuous time for the liberation struggle. On many occasions, there was enough reason to fear that the war would get derailed by one crisis or another. Zanla and Zipra faced serious challenges, both internal and external. The situation demanded men and women of steel.
Cde Rex was one of them and he carried out his tough assignments with admirable distinction.
In his heart-warming eulogy yesterday, President Mugabe brought to the fore all the remarkable qualities that made Cde Rex a giant among men, a people’s hero, an enduring legend.
Gen Mujuru led from the front, quite literally.
Although he was a senior figure in the Zanla war machine, he did not use this privilege to shield himself from the grim realities of the battlefield.
He was always on the frontline, sharing risks with the rank and file.
It would have been impossible not to admire such a man. This explains why he was loved and trusted by the masses.
With the armed struggle won and concluded, there came a period of mistrust and uncertainty.
What would happen to the Zanla, Zipra and Rhodesian soldiers?
What would be their role in an independent Zimbabwe?
Those were trying times, fraught with immense difficulties.
Uniting the Zanla, Zipra and Rhodesian forces was never going to be easy. Zanla and Zipra could come together, of course, united by the cause of freedom and democracy. How about the Rhodies?  How would they be integrated into the new Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) and could they ever be trusted?
Gen Mujuru played a crucial role in uniting the three fighting machines, leading to the creation of a stable, solid and respected ZDF.
Ever the unifier, those close to him say he was deeply saddened by the post-independence horror known by the name Gukurahundi and the military clashes between former Zanla and Zipra cadres that plunged the newly independent Zimbabwe into political and ethnic convulsions. Cde Rex had himself received military training under Zipra. He had also been one of the commanders of the Zipa project which brought Zanla and Zipra together.
After steering Zimbabwe’s military in the right direction, Gen Mujuru retired and ventured into politics. He became one of the most approachable parliamentarians the country has ever seen. Unlike other politicians, he did not surround himself with layers and layers of red tape. He listened to ordinary folk and would stop for a friendly chat with just about anyone.
He was humanity personified. Many were puzzled by his interaction with ordinary citizens. The man was revered by the masses and held in awe by his opponents.
There has been a lot of political talk following the tragic fire that took Gen Mujuru’s life. Politicians will always talk, but they must talk less and deliver more to the masses.
Politicians should put the people first. As the nation braces for a vigorous election campaign, every politician has to remember this.
For Zanu-PF, winning the forthcoming election is not rocket science: the party must simply return to its founding values which put the people first. The party of liberation must prioritise delivery to the masses on bread and butter issues, fight corruption, defend our freedom and democracy, and reconnect with young people.
Gallant sons and daughters of Zimbabwe have made immense sacrifices to get Zanu-PF where it is today. It is now the responsibility of members to rejuvenate the party. When they examine Cde Rex’s life and how effortlessly he related with the masses, they will find their organisational strategy’s missing link.
For the other political parties, the message is this: Zimbabweans may differ along ideological and tactical lines, but we should be united by the national interest.
Our independence, sovereignty, land and economic empowerment are sacrosanct and no politician, living or unborn, should ever entertain hopes of subverting these nationalist values.
Anything else would be a betrayal of the principles espoused by the late Gen Mujuru and all the other heroes of our struggle for liberation.