News / Local
No compensation for Gukurahundi victims
07 Jun 2012 at 04:56hrs | Views
THERE is no law to provide compensation to victims of political disturbances in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa told Parliamentarians yesterday.
He was answering Makoni South legislator, Mr Pishai Muchauraya (MDC-T), who wanted to know if the victims of the disturbances of Gukurahundi will be compensated.
Minister Mnangagwa said the only existing statute that deals with compensation of this nature was the War Victims Compensation Act Chapter 11.16, which falls under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.
He said the particular statute clearly stated that war meant the armed conflict, which occurred in Zimbabwe and in neighbouring countries between 1 January, 1962 and 29 February 1980 in connection with bringing about of/or resistance to politics and social change in Zimbabwe.
"Mr Speaker Sir, it is apparent from the above that the issue of compensation of victims of war, as matters stand now, relates to the period of the liberation struggle," Minister Mnangagwa said.
"The Gukurahundi period was 1981 to 1987, it does not fall within the ambit of the above Act.
"The reality of the matter is that there is no policy position or statute pertaining to the Gukurahundi period," Minister Mnangagwa said.
Under the Global Political Agreement matters relating to victims of conflict were being handled by the Organ on National Healing and Reconciliation.
He said the organ was expected to deal with the Gukurahundi problems as part of their mandate as enshrined in the GPA.
Meanwhile, Minister Mnangagwa said the army decided to recruit people with inadequate qualifications to accommodate people from all regions.
He said the arrangement was meant to ensure all regions were represented in the army.
The minister was responding to Magwegwe MP, Mr Felix Sibanda (MDC-T) who sought to know why the Ministry had lowered entry requirements for army recruits.
Mr Sibanda claimed that he had relatives who were recruited despite the fact that they failed their Ordinary Level examinations.
"We are conscious of the need that the army should be composed of all regions but we have a challenge that in some regions the young ones would have left the country.
"However, if the honourable member is aggrieved that his relatives have been recruited without the required qualifications then we can attend to that," said Minister Mnangagwa drawing laughter and applause from legislators.
The private media and MDC-T are claiming that the recruitment is meant to accommodate Zanu-PF sympathisers to be used for political violence.
He was answering Makoni South legislator, Mr Pishai Muchauraya (MDC-T), who wanted to know if the victims of the disturbances of Gukurahundi will be compensated.
Minister Mnangagwa said the only existing statute that deals with compensation of this nature was the War Victims Compensation Act Chapter 11.16, which falls under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.
He said the particular statute clearly stated that war meant the armed conflict, which occurred in Zimbabwe and in neighbouring countries between 1 January, 1962 and 29 February 1980 in connection with bringing about of/or resistance to politics and social change in Zimbabwe.
"Mr Speaker Sir, it is apparent from the above that the issue of compensation of victims of war, as matters stand now, relates to the period of the liberation struggle," Minister Mnangagwa said.
"The Gukurahundi period was 1981 to 1987, it does not fall within the ambit of the above Act.
"The reality of the matter is that there is no policy position or statute pertaining to the Gukurahundi period," Minister Mnangagwa said.
Under the Global Political Agreement matters relating to victims of conflict were being handled by the Organ on National Healing and Reconciliation.
He said the organ was expected to deal with the Gukurahundi problems as part of their mandate as enshrined in the GPA.
Meanwhile, Minister Mnangagwa said the army decided to recruit people with inadequate qualifications to accommodate people from all regions.
He said the arrangement was meant to ensure all regions were represented in the army.
The minister was responding to Magwegwe MP, Mr Felix Sibanda (MDC-T) who sought to know why the Ministry had lowered entry requirements for army recruits.
Mr Sibanda claimed that he had relatives who were recruited despite the fact that they failed their Ordinary Level examinations.
"We are conscious of the need that the army should be composed of all regions but we have a challenge that in some regions the young ones would have left the country.
"However, if the honourable member is aggrieved that his relatives have been recruited without the required qualifications then we can attend to that," said Minister Mnangagwa drawing laughter and applause from legislators.
The private media and MDC-T are claiming that the recruitment is meant to accommodate Zanu-PF sympathisers to be used for political violence.
Source - TC
