Sikhanyiso Ndlovu defends Moyo on succession and Gukurahundi

BULAWAYO – Former Education Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu has defended several controversial comments made by Information Minister Jonathan Moyo during a recent BBC HardTalk interview.

Moyo ruffled feathers in some quarters of Zanu PF after he appeared to trash Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s chances of succeeding 91-year-old President Robert Mugabe. Moyo said Mnangagwa was a handpicked “assistant” and not guaranteed to succeed Mugabe.

Ndlovu however supported Moyo saying his comments on the succession issue were spot on. “We of former PF Zapu are amazed to hear of a succession race to succeed our President Mugabe. In isiNdebele we say ‘akukho langa eliphuma elinye lingakatshoni’ (there can be no two rulers at once).

“The President will also tell us as a party in this unity when the time comes, but for now let us all help the President in the affairs of State and national development,” the former politburo member wrote in the state media.

Moyo also received condemnation for brushing aside the Gukurahundi Massacres in which his own relatives including father were killed. He said the massacres were addressed by the Unity Accord signed between Zapu and Zanu in 1987.

“Now here is why I support Professor Jonathan Moyo on why anyone should want to reopen old wounds,” Ndlovu wrote.

“Do we want to destroy this highly cherished unity which is the envy of the African continent and the world?

“Unity must be maintained at all costs and those in politics and government must talk unity and walk unity by availing the opportunities to the former PF Zapu.

“Some new top beneficiaries of unity must not forget that they are what they are because of the peace and unity attained the hard way after the liberation of the our beloved nation, Zimbabwe.”

“Some of our people who want to pretend there was no political strife did not even suffer during that time hence they do not appreciate the importance and seriousness of the Unity Accord signed between Dr Joshua Nkomo and President Mugabe and the merger between the two revolutionary parties and indeed all the people of Zimbabwe,” he added.

There have been several attempts to get rid of Ndlovu and expel him from Zanu PF over accusations that he supported the faction of the party led by the ousted former Vice President Joice Mujuru.