By A Correspondent-Outspoken former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has sparked controversy after proposing the creation of a foundation to honour the late Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander and former Agriculture Minister, Perence Shiri—while notably ignoring Shiri’s dark legacy as a central figure in the Gukurahundi massacres of the 1980s.
Marking the fifth anniversary of Shiri’s death, Mliswa praised him on X (formerly Twitter) as an “exceptional leader” whose intellect and humility, he claimed, set him apart from many in Zimbabwe’s post-independence ruling elite.
“On the 29th of July, we commemorated the 5th anniversary of the passing of Air Marshal Perence Shiri, Gudo Guru, Muturikwa, a titan of our times. He wielded power yet embodied a profound humility and groundedness that set him apart from many,” Mliswa wrote.
“A distinguished Zanla cadre, he rose to command Tete Province at a notably young age, leaving an indelible mark on the military and the nation. Engagements with him often revealed a striking intellect; his mind was as formidable as his presence.
“We do ourselves a disservice when we neglect the establishment of foundations or other avenues for preserving our history, under which the legacies of such heroes can be reflected upon and honoured.
May his soul find eternal peace.”
Yet conspicuously absent from Mliswa’s glowing tribute was any mention of Shiri’s notorious role as commander of the North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade, which carried out the Gukurahundi massacres in Matabeleland and the Midlands between 1983 and 1987. Historians and human rights groups estimate that around 20,000 civilians, mostly Ndebele, were killed in what remains one of Zimbabwe’s deepest national traumas.
Shiri, born Bigboy Samson Chikerema, became known as “Black Jesus,” a nickname reflecting the fear and impunity he commanded during that period. While some remember him as a skilled military tactician and later a reform-minded technocrat, others see him as an unrepentant perpetrator of state terror whose actions left generations scarred.
After Robert Mugabe’s removal in 2017, Shiri was appointed Minister of Lands, Agriculture, and Rural Resettlement by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In government, he was credited by some with stabilising grain production and reforming Zimbabwe’s troubled command agriculture programme before his death from COVID-19 complications in July 2020.
Mliswa’s decision to celebrate Shiri’s legacy without acknowledging Gukurahundi drew swift backlash online. Critics accused him of trying to sanitise history and dishonouring the memory of victims still awaiting justice.
“We cannot build foundations to honour those whose hands are soaked in innocent blood while the victims remain forgotten,” one user wrote in response.
Source: Zimeye
