By Christopher Makaza
Netizens have heavily criticised former President Robert Mugabe`s utterances during his 95th birthday celebrations where he said President Mnangagwa is not God and that his power will not last forever, strongly condemning the deployment of soldiers to quell the January 14 violent protest which was organised by MDC and Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU).
Netizens argue that Mr Mugabe himself was a brutal and ruthless leader who was hero-worshipped by his bootlickers during his reign and was also responsible for the gukurahundi massacre.
Last year, Mugabe also used his private birthday celebrations to attack President Mnangagwa and on the eve of the July 30 presidential elections told his supporters not to vote for President Mnangagwa.
Responding to Mugabe`s birthday speech, Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi on his Twitter page posted, “We have noted some words of repentance by former President Mugabe saying army must protect not kill. True that a few have lost lives in running battles with the police but that cannot compare with gukurahundi or the 2008 violence when he was at the helm.”
Cyber troll Olnelo tweeted, “Mugabe now wants to come out as a saint yet he was a brutal, ruthless, cruel, heartless and evil leader. He killed and butchered many. Anotipa hasha. He must have thought twice before he vomits his fake speech.”
Another troll, Kudakwashe Marazanye responded, “He was not just at the helm, he instigated violence against his political opponents, (Joshua) Nkomo and (Morgan) Tsvangirai supporters so his hold on power wouldn't be threatened. He gloated kuti Tsvangirai akadhashurwa by the police. Mugabe was biggest instigator of violence in Zimbabwe.”
On the issue of soldiers’ activities, President Mnangagwa never supported the action taken by soldiers on civilians but rather is on record saying he would leave no stone unturned in dealing “decisively” with rogue members of the security forces found to have taken part in human rights abuses during the demonstrations.
During Mugabe`s reign, his bootlickers hero worshipped him to the extent of calling him young Jesus. In May 2017 in Marondera, the then Zanu PF youth secretary, Kudzanai Chipanga described President Robert Mugabe as an angel, saying the veteran leader was Jesus’s equal. Relatedly, in Chinhoyi during the same period at a meeting to prepare for Mugabe’s youth interface rally, Chipanga claimed that Mugabe was only second in the hierarchy of God’s kingdom, a position he shared with Jesus Christ.
“Yes, President Mugabe’s middle name is Gabriel. He was given that name by the prophets after realising he has some resemblance. He is our Messiah, just like Jesus Christ when he liberated the world. Jesus, when he came, liberated the world and when President Mugabe came, he liberated us in this age. We honour God, then Jesus Christ and President Mugabe.”
