Former Zimpapers editor Tichawona Zindoga says the death of Agriculture minister Perrence Shiri has evoked different feelings among the general populace of Zimbabwe especially people from Matebeleland.
Speaking to SABC on Wednesday, Zindoga described the late minister as a liberator who was part of a generation that won independence from Britain in 1980 however he brutally enforced the Gukurahundi massacres in 1983 to 1987.
Shiri has always been dogged with accusations of genocide following his time as the Commander of the 5th Brigade in the 1980s. The unit has been accused of killing approximately 20 000 people during the Gukurahundi Massacres.
Zindoga said people were looking forward to this day thus others said that they would not shed a tear for the Retired Air Chief Marshal while others actually celebrated the news of his demise saying that death is the ultimate equalizer.
Zindoga said the issue of Matebeleland massacres is a bitterly contested period in Zimbabwe’s history thus people took the opportunity to disagree with the government responsible.
Zindoga said despite Shiri being related to the late Robert Mugabe he had to play a huge role in his ouster.
Shiri died on 28 July 2020 and It is believed that the minister succumbed to COVID-19 and died after having being hospitalised two days earlier.