The Trial of Robert Mugabe

Nigerian writer and philosopher who teaches African and World literature at Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago in the United States of America, last year published a book titled The Trial of Robert Mugabe and critics have labeled it as one of the most creative pieces of African literature discussing one of Africa's most spoken about political figure; Zimbabwean Executive President Robert Mugabe, writes Simba Nembaware.

The opening paragraph of the novel reads as follows... Robert Mugabe, dressed in his quaint army uniform, sat between two brawny soldiers. Three other soldiers sat behind him; the palms of their hands were placed on their knees, their gazes stonily fixed to the front. He did not understand what was happening, but since the soldiers were his bodyguards, he saw no reason to panic. Not yet. But as soon as the other section of the court began to fill up, his calm gave way to misgivings. First to appear was Joshua Nkomo, followed by Bishop Abel Muzorewa, Ndabaningi Sithole, and Joshua Gumede. Mugabe's face tightened in distress. He gnashed his teeth, scratched at his tiny Hitler mustache and leaned to his left. "What's going on here?" he asked the soldier on that side.

Based on the concept that when people die they go to heaven where they will be tried and their destined determined, this fictional account presents a Robert Mugabe who has died and now on trial in heaven for the human rights abuses perpetrated under his regime. Author, Chielo Zona Eze mixes history, literature, and postcolonial theory in this powerful novel.

In the story Mugabe can not recall when exactly he died and he is shocked to be in the presence of God for trial. Facing him are countless people who died during his regime. They tell their stories, after which God condemns him to hell. Mugabe suddenly wakes up, in Harare, realizing he just had a dreadful dream.

Set in the African Afterlife, The Trial of Robert Mugabe tells the Zimbabwean story from the perspectives of two iconic Zimbabwean writers, Yvonne Vera and Dambudzo Marechera, present at the trial. At the core of the trial is Gukurahundi(1982-1987), a highly orchestrated genocide on Ndebele people by Mugabe’s North Korean trained Fifth Brigade. Yvonne Vera had reflected this mass killing in her novel, The Stone Virgins. At the trial, she relates some of what she knows about Gukurahundi to Mugabe's hearing.

Marechera also gets a unique opportunity to interpret his famous title, House of Hunger, to Mugabe's understanding. But this is not just about Gukurahundi. It is also about Zimbabwe today (2000-2008). It is about how Mugabe’s militia used rape, murder and starvation as means of political repression.

It is my sincere wish that such literature may be sold in Zimbabwe so that our people and indeed those within the government and the ruling party machinery may get a glimpse of what the future possibly holds for them. Such books tend to show how the world views us and how disappointing our leadership is.

It is with regrets that i should observe that with the harsh media laws in our country such books that naturally tickle people's minds into thinking out of box will not be allowed into the country. These books are banned even before their publishers think of entering the Zimbabwean market.