Government deployed the North Korean trained 5 Brigade soon after independence ostensibly to deal with an insurgence.
But human rights groups say the soldiers targeted supporters of the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo and his Zapu party.
Mujuru was the commander of the army at the time but his close associates say he was sidelined when 5 Brigade was set up and deployed.
“He (Mujuru) refused to let the army be used for Gukurahundi because he had worked with Zipra leaders, the likes of Joshua Nkomo and Dumiso Dabengwa who to him remained comrades in arms,” Ncube said.
“He urged that no military action should be taken against Nkomo.
“Even though he was in charge of the army he distanced himself from Gukurahundi that is why the 5 Brigade reported directly to Mugabe.”
Ncube added that even when stronger opposition parties like the MDC were formed at the turn of the century the late Mujuru never insulted or condemned the parties verbally or called for their supporters to be brutalised.
