The Fifth Brigade was an elite unit of specially trained Zimbabwean soldiers. The Fifth Brigade was formed in 1981 and disbanded in 1988 after allegations of brutality and murder during the Brigade's occupation of Matabeleland. It was reformed later and was active in 2006 at least. In October 1980, President Robert Mugabe signed an agreement with the North Korean President, Kim Il Sung, that they would train and equip a brigade for the Zimbabwe National Army. In August 1981, 106 North Koreans arrived to train the new brigade. The members of the Fifth Brigade were drawn from 3500 ex-ZANLA troops, including two unintegrated ZANLA battalions, at Tongogara Assembly Point. There were a few ZIPRA troops in the unit initially, but they were withdrawn before the end of the training. It has been reported that there were also some foreigners in the unit, possibly Tanzanians. The training of Fifth Brigade lasted until September 1982, when Minister Sekeramayi announced training was complete
“We did not say Zim elections were fair”—Zuma’s Minister Upon realization that ZUMA had not adequately applied his mind to the evidence pointing to vote rigging in Zimbabwe, the South African President, was forced to take back his former statement, which had indicated the vote was FREE & FAIR. Additionally, the revelations that ZUMA was bribed by ZANU PF are definitely not working in his favour. Compounded by the fact, that blessing a MUGABE victory, would only help Malema`s Project of Economic empowerment the ZANU PF way, must have caused some collywobbles within South African political elite. Someone must have opened ZUMA`s eyes to the impending dangers to South Africa by declaring the Zimbabwean Election as FREE & FAIR. ZUMA would have had a tough time in selling Mugabe`s legitimacy to the World, now that he realizes that he is alone in congratulating Mugabe, now he has been forced to take back his self-indulgent statement. Let’s hope it’s soon he returns the mo
Mugabe will be removed by politicians who will surmount the fear of death and breathe courage to the population. Leaders, who will, with their trusted people power and large numbers, demolish Mugabe’s thin fortresses of violence and extract freedom and justice from the sinking regime. In his lifetime, Mugabe must see the colour of defeat, taste the bitter cup of justice and smell the freedom of his victims. The many Zanu PF hardliners who continue to show fanatical and near cultic support for Mugabe are not Zimbabweans who love and honour “a dear leader.” It is a collection of fearful beneficiaries of Mugabe’s violence, corruption, patronage and pillage who stand to lose their freedom, wealth and even lives in the case of his departure. These are Mugabe’s zealots who have raped, murdered, robbed and stolen in the name of Mugabe and are most likely to be thrown into extremism upon Mugabe’s death and run down Zimbabwe in a bloody civil war if not managed strategically by the politic
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