Source: ‘Criminalise Gukurahundi denial’ – NewsDay Zimbabwe March 27, 2017
A CALL has been made for government to consider criminalising the denial of post-independence atrocities committed by the State and commonly referred to as Gukurahundi.
BY KHANYILE MLOTSHWA
Pressure group Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) secretary-general Benedict Sibasa, in a statement, challenged President Robert Mugabe’s government to release “all the truth relating to Gukurahundi”.
“The MIHR joins the international community in commemorating the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, which falls on 24 March, 2017.
“We call on the government of Zimbabwe to speak the truth regarding the Gukurahundi genocide and allow free and uncensored space for truth telling and justice for the victims of this genocide that resulted in gross human rights violations,” Sibasa said.
He said there was a need to have a free, independent and unbiased National Peace and Reconciliation Commission which should be led by a citizen of Matabeleland.
“The government should enact a Gukurahundi Truth Bill which makes it a criminal offence for any individual, group of people, organisation, publication or work of art that denies that Gukurahundi genocide happened,” he said.
“We also call upon the government to immediately refrain from trying to fast-track the Gukurahundi reburials outside the involvement of independent and internationally certified and recognised forensic exhumation scientists. This is important if the process is to give truth and dignity for the genocide victims.
He added: “The government should also stop the controlling or demanding of notifications for meetings organised for the purposes of dealing with or gathering evidence on Gukurahundi if it is sincere on the truth process. It should also stop all security sector and political fear-instilling tactics on Gukurahundi talks.”
Sibasa said the MIHR wanted to challenge “all those that served the regime during the Gukurahundi genocide era to come out openly and tell all the truth they know about the genocide, if they have genuinely separated themselves from the system”.
On December 21, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 24 as International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.
Denial of the World War II Holocaust is a jailable offence in most parts of Europe and the West.
COMMENTS
Thanks for such a good article on the way forward in Zimbabwe particularly the Midlands and Matebeleland. I hope the MPs of the Zimbabwe parliament read this instead of trying to seek silly salary increaments. Hanzi toda increase to 4000USD salary per month – very silly and the reason given hanzi because we are the lowest paid in the region – eish… even more sillier. We are actually the poorest country not only in the region probably in the whole world.For heaven’s sake -we no longer even have our own currency. Innocent people in the midlands and Matebeleland were murdered leaving whole families without breadwinners. Debate a bill to provide financial compensation for the poor people who were such victims of genocide. Honourable Chamisa! Wake up. That is why you lost the rural vote in matebeleland in 2013.
And also include those crimes committed during Mzilikhazi era. Most cattle and beautiful wives were taken and forefather of the other section brutally stabbed to death with spears. It was also one of those times of madness .That was a passing phase as alluded by the late Vice President Joseph Msika
Lets now focus on rebuilding our nation which is showing signs of improvement in terms of agricultural production.Viva ZIMBABWE.
Lets now focus on rebuilding our nation which is showing signs of improvement in terms of agricultural production.Viva ZIMBABWE.
And also include those crimes committed during Mzilikhazi era. Most cattle and beautiful wives were taken and forefather of the other section brutally stabbed to death with spears. It was also one of those times of madness .That was a passing phase as alluded by the late Vice President Joseph Msika
That’s stupid of u my brother. U can’t liken genocidal massacre incident with a Battle where there was a conqueror.
Which beautiful wives. From where? Kkkk.