Nathan Shamuyarira
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| Nathan Shamuyarira | |
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Minister of Information
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| President | Robert Mugabe |
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Member of Parliament for Tsholotsho
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office March 31, 2005 |
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| President | Robert Mugabe |
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| Nationality | Zimbabwean |
| Political party | ZANU-PF |
Nathan Shamuyarira was a Zimbabwean nationalist who at different times fought on behalf of and helped lead FROLIZI, ZANU, and ZAPU.[1] He later served as the Information Minister of Zimbabwe[2] and as the Information Secretary of ZANU PF.[3] He is writing President Robert Mugabe's biography.[4]
On October 19, 1980 he reimplemented the screening of foreign journalists. Journalists had to have a work permit approved monthly by the government.[2]
When 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."[5]
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. [6]
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[edit] Pius Ncube
In March 2005 he referred to prominent government critic and archbishop Pius Ncube as a
| “ | mad, inveterate liar. He has been lying for the past two years. He, however, fits into the scheme of the British and Americans, who are calling for regime change and are feeding him with these wild ideas. Archbishop Ncube's open call for an unconstitutional uprising shows he is an instrument of the West's illegal regime change agenda.[3] | ” |
[edit] International Crisis Group
In June 2006 he accused the International Crisis Group 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.[7]
[edit] Gukurahundi
In October 2006 Shamuyarira sparked outrage when he praised the Gukurahundi, 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."[8] Max Mnkandla, President of the Zimbabwe Liberators' Peace Initiative, and politician Jonathan Moyo also strongly condemned his comments.[9]
The ZANU PF leadership in Matabeleland and National Party Chairman John Nkomo condemned his comments, Nkomo calling them "arrogant and insulting." He further warned,
| “ | Let it be made clear that we are all Zimbabweans and those who think they are more equal than others are digging graves with their own teeth.[8] | ” |
Mandlenkosi Ncube of New Zimbabwe, in an article entitled Why Shamuyarira makes me sick, referred to Shamuyarira as a "pathetic and shameless liar," a "sick individual -- a Gukurahundi denier."[10]
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?"[9]
[edit] Sanctions
In January 2007 the British government announced it would renew targeted travel sanctions on members of the Zimbabwean government who contributed to the poor humans rights situation in the country. Shamuyarira lamented that the British government had not "learn[ed] from history and they don't want to leave behind their colonial suppression of independent states. Zimbabwe has done nothing wrong that deserves those illegal sanctions."[11]
[edit] References
- ^ Tor, Sellstr̀eom. Sweden and National Liberation in Southern Africa. Page 153-154
- ^ a b Kalley, Jacqueline Audrey. Southern African Political History: a chronological of key political events from independence to Mid-1997, 1999. Page 713.
- ^ a b Mugabe's party attacks archbishop, March 28, 2005. CNN
- ^ ZIMDAY Sunday 30 May 2004, May 30, 2004. ZimDay
- ^ Mugabe Tells Bush - 'Go To Hell' Rense
- ^ Correspondence between JC Kennedy and Musa is available in the AMSAC papers, MSRC Research Center, Howard University Box 6 Folder 16"
- ^ Crisis Group think tank rejects Harare charge of inciting revolt, June 6, 2006. VOA News
- ^ a b Zanu-PF Bulawayo Chairman refuses to sign Gukurahundi petition, October 31, 2006. ZimDaily
- ^ a b Shamuyarira under fire over Gukurahundi, November 3, 2006. New Zimbabwe.
- ^ Why Shamuyarira makes me sick, November 3, 2006. New Zimbabwe
- ^ Zimbabwe raps West's plans to renew sanctions, January 10, 2007. Mathaba News Agency
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