Stuart Doran author of the book, “Kingdom, power, glory: Mugabe, Zanu and the quest for supremacy, 1960-1987” has said that President Emmerson Mnangagwa needs a better public relations to address his role in the Gukurahundi massacres. Mnangagwa has refused to apologise for his role in Gukurahundi saying that the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) is enough. Here is an excerpt of Doran’s interview with the Sunday Times,
Sunday Times: Was there ever a legitimate reason for the existence of the Fifth Brigade in Matabeleland?
Stuart Doran: Mugabe and his ministers claimed that 5 Brigade was a crack unit that was established to deal with banditry in Matabeleland. But that was propaganda. The brigade was created to smash the support base of Zanu PF’s main political opposition — and that’s exactly what it did when it was deployed in January 1983.
Sunday Times: President Emmerson Mnangagwa was Mugabe’s minister of State Security during the Gukurahundi — do you believe, as some do, that he was instrumental in the massacres?
Stuart Doran: Yes. The evidence is clear. He was by no means the only player, but he was one of the most important. His outright denials are, frankly, pretty silly. He needs a new PR (public relations) team.
WHY DID YOU PEOPLE KEEP QUIET WHEN MUGABE WAS IN POWER. GUKURAHUNDI WAS BAD BUT EMMERSON was not in Charge let’s talk about the several attempts of uprising I remember being beaten and sustained a broken Jaw 1980 by Zapu supporters for failing to Do Zapu salute and slogan in bulawayo was saved by Msika and Msipa Many people died in Gokwe under dissident attacks but you guys look at one aspect Leave ED alone and DAVENGWA don’t play the victim mate you are partially to blame you give nonsense about Rhodesians planting arms on Zapu farms those weapons were Russian made Smith would not waste money buying hardware what would be his objective sometimes I think you should come clean it heals the soul Entumbane uprising was not planned by ordinary soldiers