Posts by Charles Rukuni

In just four years Chenjerai Hunzvi rose from an obscure medical doctor to lead the war veterans association, though he admitted he had never been to the front. The association was dormant at the time but Hunzvi propelled it to greater heights, forcing the government to pay them huge lumpsum payments and pensions when it did not have money. He also became one of the most feared people in the country and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front’s point man to win them votes in areas where support was waning especially after the formation of the Movement for Democratic Change. But within a year of being elected to Parliament, and spearheading the farm invasions that saw scores of white commercial farmers being driven off the land, he was dead. There are just over 20 Wikileaks cables on him. Here is the first batch.

(30 VIEWS)

Commercial farmers told United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Tom McDonald that the only effective tool that could turn President Robert Mugabe around was the threat of a total cut off of fuel and electricity by South Africa.

(31 VIEWS)

Police evicted war veterans from a farm on the outskirts of Harare and set their makeshift huts ablaze raising hopes that they might finally cut war veterans leader Chenjerai Hunzvi to size.

(14 VIEWS)

The United States embassy considered war veterans leader Chenjerai Hunzvi as one of the big losers when he failed to make it to President Robert Mugabe’s cabinet after the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front’s narrow victory over the Movement for Democratic Change in 2000.

(28 VIEWS)

The Prime Minister and Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai has fought for democracy in Zimbabwe since he became secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions in the 1980s. It was in that role that he was catapulted to the MDC. He has the highest number of Wikileaks cables released on Zimbabwe, more than 800. But whether it was for better or worse, only the public can decide. Here are the first 150.

(11 VIEWS)

At least four people in Harare were tortured in or near a medical office run by war veterans leader Chenjerai Hunzvi, who was a medical doctor, a team of medical experts that had been invited to Zimbabwe to investigate cases of state-sponsored torture said.

(18 VIEWS)

Rio Tinto which owns the Murowa Diamond Mine near Zvishavane is considering quitting the diamond business but says this process might take some time.

(12 VIEWS)

A stringer for CNN Bob Coen was stopped from filming near the Supreme Court but was not given any reason until later when he was told that the area was now restricted.

(20 VIEWS)

Three bishops from Manicaland and one from Bulawayo told United States embassy officials in separate conversations on 16 April 2003 that they had drawn up a 10-point vision for Zimbabwe and were quietly approaching the President’s office to arrange negotiations between the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and the Movement for Democratic Change.

(57 VIEWS)

After losing the Kuwadzana and Highfield seats the Zimbabwe African National Union- Patriotic Front appeared to have stepped up its harassment of Movement for Democratic Change legislators.

(30 VIEWS)