Outrage over Mudenda’s appointment as Human Rights chairperson

Posted by on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 in Human Rights | 7 comments

Jacob Mudenda

By Tichaona Sibanda
19 February 2013

The appointment of Jacob Mudenda as chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has been followed by a barrage of criticism directed towards the principals in the GPA.

Mudenda is a former ZANU PF governor for Matabeleland North and served in that capacity during the period when over 20,000 people were killed in the region by the North Korean trained 5th Brigade.

His appointment to head the commission has provoked an angry response from rights campaigners. Opponents said the move will further discredit an inclusive government that has been on a relentless crackdown of members of civil society organisations.

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter saw a deluge of comments, with many expressing shock and condemning the latest development.

Gabriel Shumba, chairperson of the Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, told SW Radio Africa’s Hidden Story program that Mudenda’s appointment symbolizes what is wrong with the inclusive government.

He added that it diminishes the credibility of the human rights system and casts a shadow upon the reputation of the commission as a whole.

‘The fact he was the governor during the Gukurahundi troubles will infuriate those who tried and failed to seek justice for their loved ones who died,’ Shumba.

Our correspondent Lionel Saungweme told us the appointment of Mudenda, implicated in the Gukurahundi atrocities by his association with ZANU PF, has become a huge concern to many people in Bulawayo.

‘Most people here are demanding he be removed as chairperson saying his elevation to that post would damage the integrity and reputation of the rights commission.

‘The people in Bulawayo are asking how on earth is he going to look objectively at human rights issues when he has made a career out of oppressing the masses during his stint as governor,’ Saungweme said.

In 2009 SW Radio Africa also exposed the fact that Mudenda is involved, along with many other ZANU PF officials, in illegal hunting scams.

In 2004 Tourism Minister Francis Nhema granted a lucrative hunting concession to Mudenda, without going to tender.

  • AV

    i might be wrong the picture resembles more of Mr Masimirembwa

    • http://www.swradioafrica.com/ SW Radio Africa

      Thank you

  • super mondo

    who appointed the cockroach.

  • Chimbwidos Warvets

    It is you who is outraged by the appointment. I like the guy although he is now as old as the hills. This is where I do not understand why ‘sekuru vavakuda kuenda kunoona mwari kana satan’ should be appointed to occupy such a high office. Ko hapana vana vema Warvets kana kuti vakadzi vavo here?

  • Anonymous

    Chiregai zvakadaro , toona kunowira tsvimbo nedohwe.

  • http://twitter.com/cpeelzw Clayton Peel

    Believe me, this post is related to the above story. I really think that Morgan Richard Tsvangirai is unsuited for the presidency.

    • Chimbwidos Warvets

      You are the only guy who has said vividly clear but I think you may have created problems for yourself because my friends Yepec, GBZ, Common Sense, Dumbu, Nhamoyebonde, our political analyst, Wilbert Mukori and Tanonoka Whande in hiding in Botswana as this is not the kind of language they will entertain. Even when all indications point to the fact that Tsvangirai is not that clever to lead the country, they still insist he is the greatest politician Zimbabwe has ever produced. Please explain to them in ways that will make them understand that after all our Prime Minister is not the kind of material suited for the presidency.