BY NIZBERT MOYO

A Gukurahundi survivor Hlanganiso Sithole (76) from Sikhale line in Matabeleland North’s Tsholotsho district still bears the scars of the torture he endured at the hands of the Fifth Brigade.

Sithole said his three brothers were shot dead in June 1984 while he managed to escape from the firing squad.

“There were four of us where we were seated at one of the family homestead,” he narrated the events of the day

“Soldiers approached us and accused us of being dissidents. During that process one of my brothers, Oscar, had gone to the toilet while they were interrogating us and by the time he came back they attacked accusing him of being a dissident…

“While we were still shocked, they started firing. My three brothers were killed instantly.

“I survived through the grace of the Lord because I could not believe it was me but God’s hand, at play.”

He is one of the many survivors of the 1980’s Gukurahundi massacres demanding answers for the torture they endured at the hands of the Fifth Brigade.

In July this year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially launched the Gukurahundi outreach programme in Bulawayo where he said the program would be led by the chiefs.

The programme has failed to take off amid indications that a budget for the exercise has not been released.

Some of the victims told Southern Eye on Sunday that they want an apology and compensation before they can die due to old age.

A visit to Tsholotsho on Wednesday by Southern Eye on Sunday revealed that the majority of villagers are still traumatised by the torture, rape and killings.

“These people were killing anyone whom they come across with, even the police were telling us that they are afraid of them because they could be killed as well,” Sithole claimed.

“I am an innocent man, I need compensation.”

An elderly woman said she has not overcome the trauma of rape at the hands of the Fifth Brigade.

“I still recall that it was on a Monday, “ the woman who cannot be identified by name for ethical reasons said.

“They tortured my husband and left him for dead.

“They found me putting on a maternity dress which I was given by my youngster who had given birth.

“One of the soldiers was stopped by his colleagues after he tried to spear my stomach with his bayonet accusing me of bearing a dissident in my stomach.”

He husband succumbed to the torture injuries, she said.

“One of the soldiers raped me and continued coming to me every day at night,” she said.

No definitive death toll has been established but the late Robert Mugabe’s Fifth Brigade, trained by North Korean instructors, is estimated to have killed up to 20,000 people between 1983 and 1987.

Mnangagwa is accused of being the architect of the killings as he was State Security minister at the time.

SOURCE: SOUTHERN EYE

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI & BRENDA NCUBE

Two women from Hwange, Jambesi under Shana, are currently admitted at Victoria Falls Hospital after a traumatic crocodile attack at Matetsi River.

Our organization, VicFallsLive, visited them at the hospital, where we witnessed their struggles firsthand.

Initially, the women agreed to conduct an interview, but later declined, stating they were “sorted” and didn’t need assistance with medication or food.

However, their relatives revealed that they are in dire need of injections and food, both in the hospital and at home.

It became apparent that the women had lost trust in organizations and individuals who had promised to help but disappeared after allegedly coming to interview them and taking records since their admission almost two weeks ago.

We then contacted Fanuel Mudimba, the councillor for Jambesi ward seven, who provided context to the attack.

According to Mudimba, the women were engaged in illegal fishing at Matetsi River when they were attacked by a crocodile.

One woman was severely injured on her left arm, while the other sustained injuries on her fingers and arm while trying to rescue her companion.

The councillor highlighted the growing concern of human-wildlife conflict in Jambesi, where residents live in fear of crocodile and elephant attacks.

BY STAFF REPORTER

Zimbabwe and Zambia suffered nationwide blackouts at roughly the same time on Sunday night, believed to be connected to a surge on power lines connecting the two countries to South African power utility, Eskom.

According to ZimLive, the outage happened at 8.15PM in Zambia, and at 8.25PM in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe’s state power company ZESA said “the national grid experienced a system disturbance resulting in a nationwide blackout.”

Zambia’s ZESCO, meanwhile, reported a “power system disturbance… leading to loss of power supply that has affected the whole country.”

In an update on Monday, ZESA said its engineers immediately “began the restoration process and we are happy to advise that as of this morning most of the load centres (regional sub stations) have been picked countrywide.“

Power was restored at around 3AM on Monday in most parts of Zimbabwe.

ZimLive understands engineers from ZESA believe the fault emanated from a surge on power lines from South Africa through which Zimbabwe and Zambia import power from Eskom. Zambia, in particular, has ramped up imports as its power deficit is graver than Zimbabwe’s.

People using electronic gadgets reported power going on and off in three spasms before it went out completely.

Zimbabwe and Zambia are both experiencing major power generation shortfalls due to low water levels at Kariba, which has forced ZESA and ZESCO to reduce power generation.

Zimbabweans are enduring power cuts lasting up to 18 hours a day as ageing thermal power stations constantly break down.

SOURCE: ZIMLIVE