Latest news with #Rhodesian
Otago Daily Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
War crimes allegations ‘nonsense': mayoral candidate
Guy Percival. PHOTO: ODT FILES Waitaki's newest mayoral candidate has labelled claims he was involved in war crimes as "nonsense". Guy Percival, of Five Forks, announced his mayoral candidacy just days ago, including a biography that referred to serving with the Selous Scouts, a counter-insurgency unit, in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The special forces unit has previously been accused of killing civilians, various war crimes and being involved in the Rhodesian chemical weapons programme. But Mr Percival, who says he is the only New Zealander to have served in the unit, took to social media to defend himself against people criticising him for being part of the unit. "Those who have never served, and never likely too, should be very careful in having an unqualified opinion on those that have," Mr Percival posted. "Selous Scouts was a multi-racial regiment of the country's Defence Force; 75% were African, the balance European and mixed race. "All were volunteers. The pride of serving with such an amazing group of incredible soldiers cannot be diminished by the ignorant comments from those who have limited knowledge or understanding. This will be my first and last comment on this site." A further post on the same site yesterday attracted more comments. "I think it's very sad that people make comment without knowing," Mr Percival told the ODT yesterday. "So, I just get very sensitive, and I think any soldier does, about his regiment, which has been ingloriously described. "Everyone liked to blame the Scouts for everything — and someone quoted The New York Times saying something about chemical warfare. We never had any of that nonsense," he said. "We were doing a job and, as I say, 75% of our unit was African soldiers who were actually incredible men and I'm very, very proud of my service as being the only Kiwi that ever served in that unit." Some people had said he should have left out his service from his mayoral bio, but he did not want to do that. "It's all over rover now ... but it is a very important part of my life." A 1994 Amnesty International report accused the unit of war crimes. However, there have been no official prosecutions of unit members for actions during the Rhodesian Bush War. The opposing Zimbabwean African Liberation Army, led at one point by future leader Robert Mugabe, has also been accused of actions amounting to war crimes under today's international law norms, including forced conscription of child soldiers. Like the Selous Scouts, there have been no formal prosecutions of Zala members. In 1980, then-president Mugabe granted amnesties to both sides of the conflict.
Otago Daily Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
War crimes allegation against African unit ‘nonsense'
Guy Percival. PHOTO: ODT FILES Waitaki's newest mayoral candidate has labelled claims he was involved in war crimes as "nonsense". Guy Percival, of Five Forks, announced his mayoral candidacy just days ago, including a biography that referred to serving with the Selous Scouts, a counter-insurgency unit, in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The special forces unit has previously been accused of killing civilians, various war crimes and being involved in the Rhodesian chemical weapons programme. But Mr Percival, who says he is the only New Zealander to have served in the unit, took to social media to defend himself against people criticising him for being part of the unit. "Those who have never served, and never likely too, should be very careful in having an unqualified opinion on those that have," Mr Percival posted. "Selous Scouts was a multi-racial regiment of the country's Defence Force; 75% were African, the balance European and mixed race. All were volunteers. The pride of serving with such an amazing group of incredible soldiers cannot be diminished by the ignorant comments from those who have limited knowledge or understanding. This will be my first and last comment on this site." A further post on the same site yesterday attracted more comments. "I think it's very sad that people make comment without knowing," Mr Percival told the ODT yesterday. "So, I just get very sensitive, and I think any soldier does, about his regiment, which has been ingloriously described. "Everyone liked to blame the Scouts for everything — and someone quoted The New York Times saying something about chemical warfare. We never had any of that nonsense," he said. "We were doing a job and, as I say, 75% of our unit was African soldiers who were actually incredible men and I'm very, very proud of my service as being the only Kiwi that ever served in that unit." Some people had said he should have left out his service from his mayoral bio, but he did not want to do that. "It's all over rover now ... but it is a very important part of my life." A 1994 Amnesty International report accused the unit of war crimes. However, there have been no official prosecutions of unit members for actions during the Rhodesian Bush War. The opposing Zimbabwean African Liberation Army, led at one point by future leader Robert Mugabe, has also been accused of actions amounting to war crimes under today's international law norms, including forced conscription of child soldiers. Like the Selous Scouts, there have been no formal prosecutions of Zala members. In 1980, then-president Mugabe granted amnesties to both sides of the conflict.
eNCA
2 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Zimbabwe party loses bid to block Mugabe-era massacre hearings
HARARE - A Zimbabwean court rejected Tuesday a bid by an opposition party to block government-called hearings into a 1980s massacre of thousands of people by elite troops during former president Robert Mugabe's long and repressive rule. The court challenge to call off the process was led by a son of the late Joshua Nkomo, Mugabe's bitter rival during the Rhodesian war of independence when two rival parties -- Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) emerged to challenge the colonial government. Nkomo's supporters were brutally targeted in the so-called Gukurahundi massacre by North Korean-trained soldiers sent by Mugabe to quell a rebellion. The repression included torture and rape. An estimated 20,000 people were killed in Matabeleland, Nkomo's power base and heartland of the Ndebele people. Sibangilizwe Nkomo, a ZAPU leader, said the party rejected the process and wanted dialogue with the ruling ZANU-PF. The hearings were meant to have kicked off last week in villages and led by traditional chiefs. 'We want to stop the process because it cannot be led by the chiefs," Nkomo told reporters outside the court. "As a peace-loving organisation, we will continue seeking dialogue. We want an amicable closure to this thing," he said. "We want justice for the people who were killed ... women who were raped." The high court in Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo dismissed the bid, saying it was not urgent and could have been filed earlier, the party's counsel Vuyo Mpofu told AFP. "Our argument is that we were giving our attempts at dialogue with the government a chance," he said. President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the hearings a year ago, apparently in a bid to settle longstanding grievances and tensions over the killings in a region that feels marginalised by Harare and the ethnic Shona majority. They are meant to culminate in a report that could consider financial reparations. - Public beatings, executions - A heavy police presence was deployed outside the courthouse ahead of the ruling, with anti-riot squads and horse-mounted officers on patrol. Mugabe and Nkomo had a fractious relationship during the liberation struggle against white-minority rule. Nkomo came from Zimbabwe's Ndebele minority and Mugabe from the Shona majority. They fell out two years after independence in 1980, when Mugabe fired Nkomo from the coalition government, accusing his party of plotting a coup. Starting in 1983, Mugabe deployed the elite Fifth Brigade soldiers to quash a revolt. They killed an estimated 20,000 people, according to the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe and Amnesty International. It was widely seen as an effort by Mugabe to vanquish Nkomo. The operation was named Gukurahundi, a term in the Shona language that loosely translates as "the early rain that washes away the chaff". Public beatings were followed by mass executions, huts full of terrified villagers were burnt down, crops were destroyed and communities deliberately starved to death. Torture and interrogation at brutal camps was commonplace, with inmates kept in cages filled with blood and faeces of previous victims. Mnangagwa was security minister at the time. Mugabe, who died in 2019, never acknowledged responsibility for the massacres, dismissing evidence gathered by Amnesty International as a "heap of lies".
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Zimbabwe party loses bid to block Mugabe-era massacre hearings
ZIMBABWE - A Zimbabwean court rejected Tuesday a bid by an opposition party to block government-called hearings into a 1980s massacre of thousands of people by elite troops during former president Robert Mugabe's long and repressive rule. The court challenge to call off the process was led by a son of the late Joshua Nkomo, Mugabe's bitter rival during the Rhodesian war of independence when two rival parties - Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) emerged to challenge the colonial government. Nkomo's supporters were brutally targeted in the so-called Gukurahundi massacre by North Korean-trained soldiers sent by Mugabe to quell a rebellion. The repression included torture and rape. An estimated 20,000 people were killed in Matabeleland, Nkomo's power base and heartland of the Ndebele people. Sibangilizwe Nkomo, a ZAPU leader, said the party rejected the process and wanted dialogue with the ruling ZANU-PF. The hearings were meant to have kicked off last week in villages and led by traditional chiefs. 'We want to stop the process because it cannot be led by the chiefs," Nkomo told reporters outside the court. "As a peace-loving organisation, we will continue seeking dialogue. We want an amicable closure to this thing," he said. "We want justice for the people who were killed ... women who were raped." The high court in Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo dismissed the bid, saying it was not urgent and could have been filed earlier, the party's counsel Vuyo Mpofu told AFP. "Our argument is that we were giving our attempts at dialogue with the government a chance," he said. President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the hearings a year ago, apparently in a bid to settle longstanding grievances and tensions over the killings in a region that feels marginalised by Harare and the ethnic Shona majority. They are meant to culminate in a report that could consider financial reparations. PUBLIC BEATINGS, EXECUTIONS A heavy police presence was deployed outside the courthouse ahead of the ruling, with anti-riot squads and horse-mounted officers on patrol. Mugabe and Nkomo had a fractious relationship during the liberation struggle against white-minority rule. Nkomo came from Zimbabwe's Ndebele minority and Mugabe from the Shona majority. They fell out two years after independence in 1980, when Mugabe fired Nkomo from the coalition government, accusing his party of plotting a coup. Starting in 1983, Mugabe deployed the elite Fifth Brigade soldiers to quash a revolt. They killed an estimated 20,000 people, according to the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe and Amnesty International. It was widely seen as an effort by Mugabe to vanquish Nkomo. The operation was named Gukurahundi, a term in the Shona language that loosely translates as "the early rain that washes away the chaff". Public beatings were followed by mass executions, huts full of terrified villagers were burnt down, crops were destroyed and communities deliberately starved to death. Torture and interrogation at brutal camps was commonplace, with inmates kept in cages filled with blood and faeces of previous victims. Mnangagwa was security minister at the time. Mugabe, who died in 2019, never acknowledged responsibility for the massacres, dismissing evidence gathered by Amnesty International as a "heap of lies".
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Hades Thrift builds community through kindness
In a cosy corner of Ferndale, a small shop with a big heart is making a difference. Hades Thrift Shop, co-founded by Ardele Fernandes and her business partner Nono Tau, is not your average second-hand store. It's a space built on friendship, hope, and a shared dream to give back to the community, both human and animal. Read more: Local thrift shop facilitates learning to earn The two women met through their partners after both had been retrenched and struggled to find new jobs. 'We were both looking for something meaningful to do,' said Fernandes. 'I had been involved in animal rescue for many years and wanted to start a charity shop. It just happened to become a coffee shop too, thanks to Nono, who is a brilliant chef.' Their backgrounds may be different, but their values are the same. 'We've worked hard to create a family vibe in the shop,' Fernandes added. 'We want everyone who walks in to feel welcome.' The shop is named after one of Fernandes' beloved boxer dogs, Hades, who spent his puppy days in the space that is now the store. Hades was more than just a pet; he was an ambassador for Boxer Rescue South Africa, and once visited a nursery school to teach children how to treat animals with kindness and respect. Hades Thrift supports a 'pay-it-forward' model. 'We try to help others by selling donated goods on their behalf, especially people who are battling. One of the artworks in the shop was created by a cleaner. We want to give others a chance.' Running the shop hasn't been easy. 'We've battled and still do. We'd love support from big companies. But we won't give up. We'll keep pushing forward.' On Mandela Day, July 18, the team used their platform to give back. They collected donations for local animal rescuers and underprivileged community members. 'The goal was to support people who speak for the voiceless.' Nono added, 'Mandela was a great inspiration to our country. Not many people know this, but he had a dog too, a Rhodesian ridgeback named Gompo. I think Mandela Day should be every day.' Despite facing personal challenges, including the loss of her sister last year, Fernandes has found strength in the shop and her partnership with Nono. 'I met Nono on the day we opened. I truly believe she was sent to me at the right time.' Although the shop remains quiet in terms of foot traffic, it has already established lasting connections. 'Some of our customers have become dear friends.' Looking ahead, Hades Thrift hopes to improve its online presence. 'We're not great with technology. But we do have a WhatsApp group and are trying our best.' Through it all, one thing is clear: Hades Thrift Shop is more than a business. It's a space for healing, community, and compassion where every item sold helps build a better tomorrow. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
