Lookout Masuku
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Lookout Masuku (April 7, 1940 – April 5, 1986) commanded the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army, the militant wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union
, during the Rhodesian Bush War
. He served as the deputy commander of the Zimbabwe National Army
until his arrest in 1982 for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe
.
In 1982 Zimbabwean police arrested Masuku and Dumiso Dabengwa
, the ZIPRA intelligence chief, for allegedly planning a coup d'état
against then-Prime Minister Robert Mugabe. The Supreme Court found Masuku, Dabengwa, and four others not guilty in 1983, but police detained them again under emergency regulations, holding them for four years. The government released Masuku because of poor health and Vote Moyo, a ZAPU official, on March 11, 1986.
Masuku arrived in Rhodesia with Dumiso Dabengwa
on the 24th Dec 1979. Dabengwa had a meeting arranged with an informant from the country's Central Intelligence Organization
, but could not attend so sent Masuku in his stead. They judged this meeting very important, as the informant claimed that a few weeks earlier that Josiah Tongogara
was killed in an ambush in Mozambique. The meeting took place in the Wimpy Bar in Salisbury (Harare), organised by "The Senator", which was his codename.
He died on April 5, 1986 at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare from cryptococcal
meningitis
. SW Radio Africa expressed doubt about the official circumstances of Masuku's death, saying it was "suspicious."
The Mugabe government later declared Masuku a national hero.
Zimbabwe African People's Union
The Zimbabwe African People's Union was a militant organization and political party that fought for the national liberation of Zimbabwe from its founding in 1961 until it merged with the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front in December 1987....
, during the Rhodesian Bush War
Rhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
. He served as the deputy commander of the Zimbabwe National Army
Zimbabwe National Army
The Zimbabwe National Army is the land warfare branch of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The ZNA currently has an active duty strength of 30,000.-History:...
until his arrest in 1982 for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
.
In 1982 Zimbabwean police arrested Masuku and Dumiso Dabengwa
Dumiso Dabengwa
Dumiso Dabengwa is a Zimbabwean politician. He served as the head of ZIPRA intelligence during the Rhodesian Bush War.In 1982 he was charged, with Lookout Masuku and four others, of treason by the Mugabe administration. They were acquitted, for lack of evidence in 1983. On release they were...
, the ZIPRA intelligence chief, for allegedly planning a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
against then-Prime Minister Robert Mugabe. The Supreme Court found Masuku, Dabengwa, and four others not guilty in 1983, but police detained them again under emergency regulations, holding them for four years. The government released Masuku because of poor health and Vote Moyo, a ZAPU official, on March 11, 1986.
Masuku arrived in Rhodesia with Dumiso Dabengwa
Dumiso Dabengwa
Dumiso Dabengwa is a Zimbabwean politician. He served as the head of ZIPRA intelligence during the Rhodesian Bush War.In 1982 he was charged, with Lookout Masuku and four others, of treason by the Mugabe administration. They were acquitted, for lack of evidence in 1983. On release they were...
on the 24th Dec 1979. Dabengwa had a meeting arranged with an informant from the country's Central Intelligence Organization
Central Intelligence Organization
The Central Intelligence Organisation is the national intelligence agency or "secret police" of Zimbabwe.-History:The CIO was formed in Rhodesia on the instructions of Prime Minister Winston Field in 1963 at the dissolution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and took over from the...
, but could not attend so sent Masuku in his stead. They judged this meeting very important, as the informant claimed that a few weeks earlier that Josiah Tongogara
Josiah Tongogara
Josiah Magama Tongogara was a commander of the ZANLA guerrilla army in Rhodesia. He attended the Lancaster House conference that led to Zimbabwe's independence and the end of white minority rule...
was killed in an ambush in Mozambique. The meeting took place in the Wimpy Bar in Salisbury (Harare), organised by "The Senator", which was his codename.
He died on April 5, 1986 at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare from cryptococcal
Cryptococcus
Cryptococcus is a genus of fungus. Species grow in culture as yeasts. The perfect forms or teleomorphs of Cryptococcus species are filamentous fungi in the genus Filobasidiella...
meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
. SW Radio Africa expressed doubt about the official circumstances of Masuku's death, saying it was "suspicious."
The Mugabe government later declared Masuku a national hero.