Msika unconvinced by Mugabe's Gukurahundi apology

Msika unconvinced by Mugabe's Gukurahundi apology

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By Staff Reporter

VICE President Joseph Msika has waded into the Gukurahundi controversy by revealing that President Robert Mugabe personally apologised to him over the genocidal killing of 20 000 civilians in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces in the 1980s.

In comments that will send shock waves through the corridors of power, Msika said he was NOT convinced by Mugabe's apology.

The privately-owned Standard newspaper which carried Msika's comments says they were made last week in the presence of senior government officials including the Speaker of Parliament, John Nkomo.

Msika was speaking at a ceremony to mark the killing of 11 Zipra cadres by Rhodesian forces in Jotsholo during an armed struggle against white rule.

Msika is quoted as saying: "When we asked him (Mugabe) about the disturbances, he apologised to me personally, but I was not convinced . . ."

Talking about the 1987 Unity Accord between Zanu and Zapu, Msika is said to have told delegates to the meeting that Mugabe shot down suggestions for a new name for the merged party.

"In the run-up to the signing of the Accord, a serious issue arose over which name to use," said Msika. "Some of us in Zapu thought that it would be wise to come up with a neutral name . . . but those people in Zanu said they had won the elections and saw no need to change the name."

Msika said for the sake of unity, the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo had the final say: "What’s in a name?" he asked. Zanu PF was adopted as the new party name.

Zanu PF national spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira recently ignited the debate over the killings by suggesting that he did not regret the massacres executed by a specially-trained unit called the 5 Brigade.

Significantly, Mugabe has admitted some responsibility. Referring to the massacres, Mugabe has described them as a "moment of madness that should never be repeated".
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