Farai Dziva| Following
Former President Robert Mugabe’s remarks about the Emmerson Mnangagwa led government’ s brutality many Zimbabwe are asking whether the former strongman was directly involved in the commission of atrocities during his days in office.

Mugabe castigated Mnangagwa for sending soldiers to brutalise protesting civilians.

Mugabe was speaking at his Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale where hundreds of invited guests were celebrating his 95th birthday.

“Some people think that being a leader means killing people and beating people, but that is not the way. Even the fallen heroes would not approve of that.

We are hearing there are graves that have been created by the army when they kill people. It is not the task of the army to lead the people with guns. Let us not be killers of our own people.

Soldiers should take their rightful place and fight when the situation demands.

They should be protectors of people and I am not scared to say it,” said Mugabe.

Mugabe’s remarks come after Mnangagwa deployed the army on August 1, resulting in the shooting and killing of 7 civilians. The army was again deployed in January and 17 more people were killed while several women were raped and hundreds of people were seriously injured.