Gukurahundi roadmap faces resistance 

Source: Gukurahundi roadmap faces resistance – The Southern Eye

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s roadmap to address the Gukurahundi atrocities is facing serious resistance with human rights’ groups now calling for the suspension of the chiefs’ led consultation process.

The activists argue that the process was flawed, anti-victims and unsustainable.

They contend that  only a United Nations led exercise is required to produce desired results.

Mnangagwa unveiled the roadmap at a meeting held at the State House in Bulawayo on October 17.

Post Independent Survival Trust (Pist) director Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda said an international body independent from government interference and influence is needed to produce sustainable results.

“Therefore, all ongoing consultations by the chiefs must be suspended forthwith and be taken over by the UN with committee members from African Union, Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and some conflict resolution international and regional non-governmental organisations  representatives,” Sibanda said.

“This is because nowhere in the world where a perpetrator or an accused may judge himself or herself.

“There is no legal reality or basis for such absurdity.”

Reports have emerged showing that there are divisions among traditional leaders over the Gukurahundi roadmap.

This follows reports that some traditional leaders were being bribed by authorities to support the roadmap.

Centre for Innovation and Technology director  Zenzele Ndebele said chiefs had no powers to ensure justice.

“(Gukurahundi will not be solved by chiefs because the chiefs will not deal with the issue of justice, but the chiefs can address certain issues like reburials,” Ndebele said.

“There are some issues that need  the international community; international systems…the current government cannot take itself to court.”

According to Mthwakazi Republic Partyleader Mqondisi Moyo, there is an attempt to sweep Gukurahundi under the carpet.

Moyo was referring to an incident which happened in Parliament recently when Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi accused an opposition MP Wellington Chikombo of being excitable after he suggested that political violence witnessed in Matobo and Insiza were akin to Gukurahundi.

“He (castigated a member of Parliament ,who was complaining about the Gukurahundi-style torture of women at Matobo,” Moyo said.

“Ziyambi accused the concerned parliamentarian of ‘smuggling Gukurahundi’ into parliamentary debates, and ordered the parliamentarian to ‘withdraw’ the word Gukurahundi.

“If Gukurahundi cannot be discussed in Parliament, where else will it be discussed? “

Moyo added: “People are talking about Gukurahundi because nothing has been done yet to bring about closure.

“All that is there are insincere promises and false starts to the matter. Until the issue is resolved satisfactorily, we will not be quiet.”