Trio Arrested for Holding Gukurahundi Memorial
Samkeliso Tshuma, Melusi Nyathi and Thamsanqa Ncube detained overnight.
The ZRP arrested Samkeliso Tshuma, Melusi Nyathi and Thamsanqa Ncube for holding a Gukurahundi Memorial on Unity day 22 December.
Your solidarity is breaking me please. Taking a mugshot this morning awakened me, l was like damn, this is real. I was close to tears but your solidarity is making my heart ache. Your messages about us, showing love&support, ngiyabonga. Please do it for others too. Thank you
— Samkeliso Tshuma (@samkebusiness) December 23, 2022
Ironically, the arrest happened on Unity Day, the day on which Joshua Nkomo of ZAPU signed a pact with Robert Mugabe of ZANU in order to a total wipe out of non-Shona speaking nationals in Southern Zimbabwe.
(3/3) Yesterday’s disruption of memorial service,arrest of @samkebusiness & 2 others,the vandalism of Gukurahundi memorial plaques; are proof that #TheUnityIsNotUnited
This exposes the 1987 Unity Accord to be as disingenuous as @edmnangagwa’s peace & unity rhetorics.#FreeThemNow pic.twitter.com/bdwv8GWALo— Makomborero Haruzivishe (@MakomboreroH) December 23, 2022
Police disrupted Gukurahundi commemorations that were organised by by sons and daughters of the Gukurahundi victims.
It’s unity day today yet Gukurahundi commemorations were disrupted and stopped by Zimbabwe Police and three of it’s members arrested including @samkebusiness . What kind of unity day is this if the daughters and sons of the soil are getting arrested for commemorating gukurahundi?
— Mandazi (@mntakaBrown) December 22, 2022
Current president Emmerson Mnangagwa and some of the officials within the ZANU-PF party are accused of having been involved in the Gukurahundi genocide that took place in the Midlands and Southern Zimbabwe during the mid-1980s.
Press release from Amnesty…
“The three activists arrested today have not committed a single crime — they should be immediately and unconditionally released. “
Zimbabwe: Activists arrested on Unity Day must be urgently released – Amnesty International https://t.co/bl7pgclBEb— Thandekile Moyo (@Mamoxn) December 22, 2022
ALSO READ: ZIMBABWEANS DISMISS UNITY DAY AS A HOAX
Samkeliso Tshuma's arrest comes after months of harassment by state security agents. A few weeks back, George Chiramba was ranting and raving about her in his column.
They ,phoned her asked who was sponsoring her activities. Now they have arrested her.
They have always wanted to arrest her.
So much for unity day celebrations where you are not allowed to talk about the reasons for celebrating the day.
Mnangagwa represents all that's evil. pic.twitter.com/kiWbzM6jNE— Ndaba Ndabezitha (@PlainHard) December 23, 2022