General Mujuru knew about Gukurahundi but did nothing

Todd says she gave Nhongo her number and later phoned Bishop Karlen asking if she could give Nhongo copies of the documents. The Bishop agreed rather reluctantly. She gave the documents to Mutambara, whom she said raped her, with the following letter to Nhongo. It was dated 21 February 1983.

Lieutenant General Nhongo

Army Commander

Zimbabwe

Dear General,

It was a privilege to talk to you and your friends at the Quill Club last Thursday evening, and to hear your views. My own strong feelings were based in part on evidence which I was then not authorised to pass on to you.

I now enclose a copy of a letter and reports compiled for the Prime Minister. I believe that Cdes Sekeremayi, Muzenda, Mnangagwa and perhaps others have also been given these copies. Bishop Karlen has given me permission to give them to you. You can see for yourself the terrible suffering which they portray, if even half of these limited reports are accurate.

It seems to me that if, in the hunt for dissidents, we inflict such enormous damage on people who are Zimbabweans, and who are poor, weak, hungry and defenceless, all we will achieve is the creation of  more dissidents forever. I believe that this policy can only harm Zimbabwe. I also believe that when Zimbabweans throughout the country learn what is happening, they will lose confidence in our government and in our national army.

When I hear of such damage to our people I find it very difficult to sleep at night, or to work during the day. But while I am not in the position to provide these tormented peasants with food, with comfort and with safety, at least I can pass on to you what news I have of them. I am sure that you are able to help provide the food and protection, and that the army can be redirected to healing and construction.

One of the things that frightens me most is to be told of the ‘disappearance’ of so many young men from the affected areas-people who have never been proved to be dissidents but who probably played a brave role in the struggle for Zimbabwe- their Zimbabwe as well as ours. Surely the way to ‘deal’ with dissidents is to establish first why they are dissidents, then to think of remedies? In other words, surely a political solution- perhaps then backed up by the military-is required rather than an intransigent military one which, in my humble opinion, cannot be a solution but which can breed only more violence, bitterness and grief.

Thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Judith Acton

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