Enos Nkala

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Enos Nkala is one of the founders of the Zimbabwe African National Union. During the war, he served on the ZANU high command, or Dare reChimurenga. He was detained by the Rhodesian government at Gonakudzingwa.[1]

Following independence in 1980, he served as the Minister of Finance, National Supplies, Home Affairs and Defence. As Defence Minister he was involved in the notorious Gukurahundi massacre of Ndebele people.

He has stated he regrets his involvement in the Gukurahundi. He says that if he had the chance he would never do it again. Not only does he describe his involvement as "eternal hell," but publicly blamed Robert Mugabe for having ordered it. At the Imbovane YaMhlabezulu meeting held in Bulawayo on 26 February 1998, Nkala, who was one of the guest speakers alongside Joseph Msika (National Chairman of ZANU-PF), repeatedly denied any involvement and responsibility in the Gukurahundi genocide.

While serving as Zimbabwe's Home Affairs Minister Nkala rejected allegations by Amnesty International, the London-based human rights organization, who had reported beatings, electric shocks and other torture at Government detention camps after the general election in Zimbabwe in July 2006.[2]

[edit] 2008 election

On April 21, 2008, following the March 2008 presidential election, Nkala urged his "colleagues to let President Mugabe retire with dignity".[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Martin, D. and Johnson, P. 1981. The Struggle for Zimbabwe. Faber & Faber.
  2. ^ Zimbabwe rejects charges that detainees are tortured NY Times
  3. ^ Kitsepile Nyathi, "Mugabe party’s founder shocked as country hurtles to abyss", Nation Media, April 21, 2008.
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