President Robert Mugabe’s statements rebuking war veterans and evoking memories of the dissident era on Thursday were regrettable, unwarranted, unfortunate and probably ominous that something terrible may be brewing in the country.
NewsDay Comment
Each time Mugabe has used such strong words, they have been followed by a crackdown on the subject they are directed to from PF Zapu in the 1980s, to white farmers at the turn of the century and ultimately MDC-T supporters in the 2008 elections.
It is estimated that 20 000 people may have been killed during the 1980s massacres, when the army was deployed in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces ostensibly to crack down on dissident activities, but many have spoken strongly over the disproportionate use of force during that time.
Mugabe has never apologised for the killings and his recent utterances show that he is willing to go down that route again, just to make sure his hold on power is not threatened and if it means ruthlessly dealing with the war veterans, or anyone else for that matter, so be it.
By describing the war veterans as dissidents, Mugabe insinuates that they are fair game for whatever may befall them, and he deliberately evoked the Gukurahundi era to remind the former freedom fighters of what happened in the past and what could happen in the future if they continue on their path.
Many would opine that war veterans had pushed the veteran leader too far and they should have expected a backlash, but it is the casual manner that he raised the 1980s massacres that should leave Zimbabweans worried.
In Mugabe’s defence, some have suggested the deployment of the 5 Brigade in Matabeleland was due to a credible security threat, but from Thursday’s statements, the President may have revealed the attacks were callously planned to protect his hold on power and nothing else.
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Mugabe has in the past described the Gukurahundi massacres as “a moment of madness”, but the way he nonchalantly brought up the issue may betray that the killings were planned and carefully executed, just to entrench the President’s hold on power.
In a chilling warning, Mugabe reminded the war veterans that some of those targeted by the 1980s killings were also freedom fighters and there is nothing special about them, as the same could happen to this current crop.
Zimbabwe, as it is, with its economic troubles, is a powder keg and there is absolutely no need for such inflammatory talk that can get even more people agitated and wary about the security situation.
Mugabe has been in power long enough and has the experience to know what statements are likely to trigger panic, stoke insecurity and open old wounds that are far from healing.
He could have reprimanded the war veterans without having to resort to statements that are likely to engender ill-feeling among Zimbabweans.
