Don't live in the Gukurahundi era - EU

THE European Union (EU) ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Dell'Ariccia has made an impassioned call to the people of Matabeleland not to continue living in the Gukurahundi past as it has the effect of blurring their development vision.

The EU ambassador made the call after meeting social, business and political leaders in Bulawayo during a five-day visit to the city by the delegation.

The call by the EU top envoy deals a blow to politicians from the region who use the topic for political grandstanding.

Ambassador Dell'Ariccia said the Gukurahundi issue was becoming a tired song that people in the region need not muster and continuously exert their energies on ahead of development issues.

He said it was important that people from the region look into the future with a view to develop the region and desist from incessantly blaming underdevelopment on the Government and the historical act that political leaders have described as unfortunate.

"The issue of Gukurahundi has become so much of a tired song in Matabeleland. We should focus more on developing the region rather than continuously blaming underdevelopment and marginalisation on the issue. People should look ahead and let not history hinder the process and prospect of developing the region.

"When one is moving forward there is no need to continuously be looking back where you are coming from as it has the danger that you may stumble and fall and in the process fail to reach your intended destination. People should not dwell more on their past as there are no prospects of living in it again. The past should not be a barrier to development," he said.

Some leaders had earlier on during the round table discussion raised the emotional issue of post independence disturbances that rocked most parts of the Southern Region of the country saying it was responsible for the underdevelopment of Matabeleland.

So emotive is the topic that it has fallen prey to abuse by politicians in the region who ride on it to try and garner political votes.

Some leaders were hoping to get the sympathy of the EU ambassador by raising the issue.

The EU delegation was in the city where it engaged local economic, social and political actors to assert its commitment to the development of the region and seek insights and ideas for future prospects of engagement.