Nathan Shamuyarira
Encyclopedia
Nathan Shamuyarira was a Zimbabwe
an nationalist who at different times fought on behalf of and helped lead FROLIZI, ZANU, and ZAPU. He later served as the Information Minister of Zimbabwe and as the Information Secretary of ZANU PF. He is writing President Robert Mugabe
's biography.
On 19 October 1980 he reimplemented the screening of foreign journalists. Journalists had to have a work permit approved monthly by the government.
When, in 1993, U.S. government officials urged President Mugabe to resign on the grounds that he did not win the past presidential election, Shamuyarira retorted, "Instead of shouting instructions for Mugabe to step down, it's the Americans themselves who need a transitional government to hold fresh elections and replace the unelected Bush. If the Americans don't want to accept our legitimacy, it is their own problem. They can go to hell. There will be no new elections here."
Musa Shamuyarira, Nathan's brother, was as a student in the United States and member of the MAZAZI Student Union in the 1960s was very close to the CIA affiliated American Society of African Culture
and it appears that he attempted to involve Nathan in the organization as well.
as a
think tank
of calling for a coup against President Robert Mugabe
in the Zimbabwe's Continued Self-Destruction paper. The article, which advocated unity among the opposition political parties, warned of "greater insecurity and violence" prior to the 2008 presidential election
. Shamuyarira said the ICG had "sponsored violence" by the Movement for Democratic Change
.
, a series of state-sponsored massacres in the 1980s. According to Shamuyarira, the "actions of the North Korea
-trained Five Brigade that massacred thousands of civilians in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces during political disturbances in the 1980s were not regrettable as [the Five Brigade was] doing a job to protect the people. It was because the dissidents were killing people that Gukurahundi went to correct the situation and protect the people. We killed vana Gwesela (the Gweselas) in my own province in Mashonaland West, in Sanyati. We killed him because he played havoc. In Matabeleland, they killed the Shona-speaking teachers; it's not true to say the Ndebeles were the only victims. Europeans in Mat South fled their farms and went to hide in the city." Max Mnkandla
, President of the Zimbabwe Liberators' Peace Initiative, and politician Jonathan Moyo
also strongly condemned his comments. Mnkandla stated that Shamuyarira's comments showed he is "not only suffering from 1880s hangover — the feeling that the Ndebele also did the same to the Shona
s — it also shows that Shamuyarira is now old and should retire."
The ZANU PF leadership in Matabeleland
and National Party Chairman John Nkomo
condemned his comments, Nkomo calling them "arrogant and insulting." He further warned,
Mandlenkosi Ncube of New Zimbabwe, in an article titled Why Shamuyarira makes me sick, referred to Shamuyarira as a "pathetic and shameless liar," a "sick individual -- a Gukurahundi denier."
He later said his comments were taken out of context, but he refused to condemn the incident, saying, "That's a situation that we would like to put into history. It's not a fair question to put to me, why should I be answering this 25 years later?"
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an nationalist who at different times fought on behalf of and helped lead FROLIZI, ZANU, and ZAPU. He later served as the Information Minister of Zimbabwe and as the Information Secretary of ZANU PF. He is writing President Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
's biography.
On 19 October 1980 he reimplemented the screening of foreign journalists. Journalists had to have a work permit approved monthly by the government.
When, in 1993, U.S. government officials urged President Mugabe to resign on the grounds that he did not win the past presidential election, Shamuyarira retorted, "Instead of shouting instructions for Mugabe to step down, it's the Americans themselves who need a transitional government to hold fresh elections and replace the unelected Bush. If the Americans don't want to accept our legitimacy, it is their own problem. They can go to hell. There will be no new elections here."
Musa Shamuyarira, Nathan's brother, was as a student in the United States and member of the MAZAZI Student Union in the 1960s was very close to the CIA affiliated American Society of African Culture
American Society of African Culture
The American Society of African Culture is an organization of African American writers, artists, and scholars. The society was founded as a result of the Congress of Negro Writers and Artists in 1956. AMSAC sponsored a two-day festival in Lagos, Nigeria in 1962....
and it appears that he attempted to involve Nathan in the organization as well.
Pius Ncube
In March 2005 he referred to prominent government critic and archbishop Pius NcubePius Ncube
His Grace the Most Reverend Dr. Pius Alick Mvundla Ncube served as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, until he resigned on September 11, 2007...
as a
International Crisis Group
In June 2006 he accused the International Crisis GroupInternational Crisis Group
The International Crisis Group is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to prevent and resolve deadly conflicts around the world through field-based analyses and high-level advocacy.-History:...
think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
of calling for a coup against President Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
in the Zimbabwe's Continued Self-Destruction paper. The article, which advocated unity among the opposition political parties, warned of "greater insecurity and violence" prior to the 2008 presidential election
Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008
The Republic of Zimbabwe held a presidential election along with a parliamentary election on 29 March 2008. The three major candidates were incumbent President Robert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front , Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change , and...
. Shamuyarira said the ICG had "sponsored violence" by the Movement for Democratic Change
Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai
The Movement for Democratic Change Zimbabwe is a political party and the largest party in the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe. It is the main formation formed from the split of the original Movement for Democratic Change in 2005.-Foundation:...
.
Gukurahundi
In October 2006 Shamuyarira sparked outrage when he praised the GukurahundiGukurahundi
The Gukurahundi refers to the suppression by Zimbabwe's 5th Brigade in the predominantly Ndebele regions of Zimbabwe most of whom were supporters of Joshua Nkomo. A few hundred disgruntled former ZIPRA combatants waged armed banditry against the civilians in Matabeleland, and destroyed government...
, a series of state-sponsored massacres in the 1980s. According to Shamuyarira, the "actions of the North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
-trained Five Brigade that massacred thousands of civilians in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces during political disturbances in the 1980s were not regrettable as [the Five Brigade was] doing a job to protect the people. It was because the dissidents were killing people that Gukurahundi went to correct the situation and protect the people. We killed vana Gwesela (the Gweselas) in my own province in Mashonaland West, in Sanyati. We killed him because he played havoc. In Matabeleland, they killed the Shona-speaking teachers; it's not true to say the Ndebeles were the only victims. Europeans in Mat South fled their farms and went to hide in the city." Max Mnkandla
Max Mnkandla
Max Mnkandla is the President of the Zimbabwe Liberators' Peace Initiative. He fought in the Rhodesian Bush War.His father, Siqanywana, died in the Gukurahundi massacres of the 1980s...
, President of the Zimbabwe Liberators' Peace Initiative, and politician Jonathan Moyo
Jonathan Moyo
Jonathan Nathaniel Moyo is a controversial political figure in Zimbabwe. He was Minister of Information from 2000 to 2005 and is currently a Member of Parliament. He is considered the core architect of AIPPA and POSA....
also strongly condemned his comments. Mnkandla stated that Shamuyarira's comments showed he is "not only suffering from 1880s hangover — the feeling that the Ndebele also did the same to the Shona
Shona people
Shona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
s — it also shows that Shamuyarira is now old and should retire."
The ZANU PF leadership in Matabeleland
Matabeleland
Modern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
and National Party Chairman John Nkomo
John Nkomo
John Landa Nkomo is a Zimbabwean politician, serving as Vice-President of Zimbabwe. After serving for years as a minister in the government of Zimbabwe, he was the Speaker of Parliament from 2005 to 2008. He was then appointed to the Senate in 2008 and was Minister of State in the President's...
condemned his comments, Nkomo calling them "arrogant and insulting." He further warned,
Mandlenkosi Ncube of New Zimbabwe, in an article titled Why Shamuyarira makes me sick, referred to Shamuyarira as a "pathetic and shameless liar," a "sick individual -- a Gukurahundi denier."
He later said his comments were taken out of context, but he refused to condemn the incident, saying, "That's a situation that we would like to put into history. It's not a fair question to put to me, why should I be answering this 25 years later?"