Zanu PF….. A Reputation of Death and Violence

By Maynard Manyowa

Ambassador Amos Midzi, purged for his allegiance to ousted Vice President Joice Mujuru died on June 09, 2015 in quite mysterious circumstances to say the very least. His death now labelled an ‘official’ suicide drew yet another mass finger pointing tirade targeted at Zanu PF.

The unofficial scenario is that Midzi’s death was a Jongwe House sponsored hit. This is the prominent and easily accepted version, embraced by multitudes of Zimbabweans, bar Zanu PF, its band of boot lickers, and the sing for supper brigade.

In all earnestly though, Zanu PF and all the people with their heads very far up the party’s behind were always going to express ‘innocent’ apprehension and outright astonishment as to why people would so readily and without a shred of evidence point a finger so serious as murder towards them. In the same stride accusing them of ruthlessly murdering one of their own in the cold comfort of a car.

Granted it is probably to some degree an unfair propensity that the majority is quick to blame Zanu whenever suspicious death visits the nation, or in this case the home of a Gamatox and more disparagingly when solid evidence to the effect is crucially lacking.

However, one cannot understate that it is also commonplace for the well-known village petty thief to wear a teary face of shock whenever the neighbour’s underwear goes missing off the washing line. Of which, in this case the accused is no petty thief at all, Zanu PF is by many means the conspicuous bandit.

Even if Zanu PF were responsible for Midzi’s death or that of any other opponent, we would be daft to expect a categorical acceptance of responsibility, especially from that camp.

Zanu PF in its totality never accepts responsibility for anything, they do not have the inherent luxury of humble honesty. They will deny blatant truths, even in the face of insurmountable evidence. (See their stubborn insistence on blaming the total collapse of state on non-trade sanctions against a certain two individuals).

Now, if they will not accept their role in destroying the economy, and evidence is there, what chance do we have of them accepting responsibility for murder when critical evidence is absolutely absent?

Nonetheless, it would be effortlessly uneducated to go as far as saying Zanu PF killed Midzi. However it would also be submissively naïve and unquestionably unthinking to say Zanu PF did not, merely because they said so, or because there is no evidence to show they did.

After all Zanu PF is purportedly in the intelligent habit of hiding crucial evidence or interfering with the collection or processing of it. Hence the absence of evidence in any matter they are implicated, does not translate to the absence of evidence.

For example, it is easy to reminisce the enormousness of the violence unleashed against the civil society as recently as 2008, but a contrastingly meticulous and problematic task to actually find evidence of the involvement of state.

The official statement after all says the assaults were unendorsed actions of party enthusiasts and drunk ruffians.

Yet despite the contestations, and significantly central to the subject at hand, the name and the brand Zanu PF is appallingly, petrifyingly and repeatedly synonymous with violence, death, murder, mystery and blatant gang like behaviour.

To begin with, the list of Zanu PF members who have died in unclear and in mysterious circumstances is worryingly too large.

Morris Nyagumbo, Moven Mahachi, Edward Chindori-Chininga, Solomon Mujuru, Border Gezi, Zororo Duri, Chris Ushewokunze, Josiah Tongogara, Hebert Chitepo and now Amos Midzi are all part of just about the most high profile list of enigmatic deaths.

If somehow these comrades were rid by their own, then the revolution is eating its own tail, and will eventually self-consume, until it exists no more.

If this is as tragically coincidental as the revolution would like us to believe then trouble follows the clenched fist too often.

Nonetheless, Zanu PF’s hands have bright red blood, and that is not a contested reality.

In the 1980’s the ruling party and government at the time engaged in an unimpressive assault on tribal Ndebele minorities.

20,000 lives were lost in what Mugabe called ‘a moment of madness’. I can’t help but wonder who the President believes was mad? But that is for another day.

Before the intelligent bootlicking bands and sing for supper brigades at the public-owned, but state controlled media became the party’s frontline torch bearers, Zanu PF consolidated its support, and avoided defeat in elections by using unpalatable violence of immense proportions. Violence and crushing of dissent is Zanu PF DNA since the party’s formation in August 1963.

In the year 2000 white farmers and their properties were targeted in grand hoodlum fashion. Some left with their lives, a few were not so lucky.

In 2002, 2005, and atrociously in 2008, an unaccounted number of people lost their lives, some their limbs, homes, and property too. And still that is probably the most forgiving, less than graphic and undetailed account of how violent, hardhearted and cold-blooded Zanu PF has been over their almost 4 decade rule.

It cannot be disputed or rebuffed that the Mugabe administration unleashed violence against its own people, especially those that contrasted with its opinion, or humbly preferred the Movement for Democratic Change.

It is a vibrantly clear correlation; Fall out with Zanu PF and the revolution, and your demise maybe sorry and simultaneously suspicious.

Politics in Zimbabwe, exclusively by Zanu PF’s making is a game of death and violence, and Midzi’s death, foul play or none, like many before, is yet another indictment on the revolution.

Like the old saying goes: The revolution like Satan devours its own children.

Zimbabweans are not stupid in any degree, they know this, and the suspicion that follows is only natural.

Maynard Manyowa is a political & social analyst. You can reach him for feedback via his website www.maynardmanyowa.com , via email – [email protected] , on Twitter – @iAmKudaMaynard or by liking his FB page – Maynard Kudakwashe Manyowa