DANIEL WHITE-SPUNNER,
Sir, - In view of the current disastrous situation in Zimbabwe I think that it might be of interest to remember the words of Robert Mugabe shortly after he formed the first government of the newly independent state. In his address to the nation, on April 21st 1980, Mr Mugabe said:
"Our new mind must have a new vision and our new heart must have a new love that spurns hate and a new spirit that must unite and not divide. This is the human essence that must form the core of our political change and national independence."
On June 26th 1980, in a speech to parliament he said: "Those of us who waged and won the struggle for freedom, non racialism and democracy, must continue to be reconciled to those principles that have won the day ... I cannot see any conflict arising in the sphere of freedom and non racial democracy if the victors and the losers join hands in accepting these fundamental principles, for the victor must be magnanimous and accept the humility that goes with victory and the loser must equally, in a spirit of humility, transform and accept their defeat and the failure of his policies and stand transposed in an entirely new posture where the principles that won the day also become their principles. It is on this basis that Black and White can work together and political opponents can accommodate each other. It was on this basis that I formed my government. In those circumstances bygones become bygones and the enemies of the past become allies in a common cause."
In 1982 Mr Mugabe send the infamous 5th Brigade into Matabeleland where they massacred thousands of Nkomo's supporters. The rest is history. - Yours, etc.,
DANIEL WHITE-SPUNNER,
Coolbawn,
Co Tipperary.