Munyaradzi
Goche
Goche
MUTARE – Zimbabweans are
united in their call for the resolution of Gukurahundi atrocities to give
grieving victims and their families’ closure, the National Peace and Reconciliation
Commission (NPRC) heard during a meeting held in Mutare recently.
united in their call for the resolution of Gukurahundi atrocities to give
grieving victims and their families’ closure, the National Peace and Reconciliation
Commission (NPRC) heard during a meeting held in Mutare recently.
Speaking at a strategic and policy framework meeting
recently, NPRC commissioner Choice Ndoro said people in areas that they had
visited had demanded that the matter be resolved once and for all.
recently, NPRC commissioner Choice Ndoro said people in areas that they had
visited had demanded that the matter be resolved once and for all.
“People in Kitsiyatota (in Bindura) demanded that we deal with the
Gukurahundi issues in the name of Ubuntu. They said some fellow Zimbabweans in
Midlands and Matebeleland were grieving and wanted closure,” Ndoro said.
Gukurahundi issues in the name of Ubuntu. They said some fellow Zimbabweans in
Midlands and Matebeleland were grieving and wanted closure,” Ndoro said.
She said her commission was going to ensure that the
issue was handled with the guidance of the victims.
issue was handled with the guidance of the victims.
“The victims will need to guide us in tackling this
issue because each person was affected differently and would have their own
preferences in dealing with this,” Ndoro said.
issue because each person was affected differently and would have their own
preferences in dealing with this,” Ndoro said.
She said they were preparing to consult widely in
order to deal with the issue that claimed over 20 000 lives and continues to
divide the nation close to four decades after independence. “We want to learn
from across the content; from the people of Sierra Leone, Rwanda and South
Africa as well as read about how Cambodia handled similar issues,” Ndoro said.
order to deal with the issue that claimed over 20 000 lives and continues to
divide the nation close to four decades after independence. “We want to learn
from across the content; from the people of Sierra Leone, Rwanda and South
Africa as well as read about how Cambodia handled similar issues,” Ndoro said.
She noted that while the signing of the Unity Accord
in 1987 and the stability-inducing government of national unity in 2008 laid
some foundation for national healing and reconciliation, more still needed to
be done as that alone was not enough.
in 1987 and the stability-inducing government of national unity in 2008 laid
some foundation for national healing and reconciliation, more still needed to
be done as that alone was not enough.
“Unity Accord and GNU did not resolve these issues….Yes,
something was done but was not enough. Part of the mandate of the commission is
to deal with the root problem which previous efforts did not deal with,” Ndoro
said.
something was done but was not enough. Part of the mandate of the commission is
to deal with the root problem which previous efforts did not deal with,” Ndoro
said.
She said there was need for people to always be
cautious of their actions as the country was still grappling with issues that
happened long before colonization.
cautious of their actions as the country was still grappling with issues that
happened long before colonization.
“Before you think of doing anything remember you are
leaving a legacy for your children,” she said.
leaving a legacy for your children,” she said.
