News / Local
Police stop Gukurahundi memorial service
04 Mar 2014 at 06:24hrs | Views
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) on Saturday stopped a memorial service meant to remember victims of the Gukurahundi massacres.
On Saturday morning, on the supposed day of the commemorations, anti-riot police were seen milling around Stanley Square, in Mzilikazi.
Radio Dialogue reported that scores of people who had converged for the service were dispersed.
Four men who tried in vain to plead with the police were taken to Mzilikazi Police Station where they were detained before being released.
Mbuso Fuzwayo, Secretary-General of Ibhetshu Lika Zulu, the organisers of the event told Radio Dialogue how he tried in vain to obtain police clearance to hold memorial prayers for the Gukurahundi victims.
"After the 18th of January prayers, which were held outside the Bulawayo Baptist Church where people were barred by police from entering the church, we applied for police clearance to hold our commemorations but to no avail. Police cited unlawful demonstrations as their concern," he said.
Fuzwayo said this time, Ibhetshu Likazulu went through all the required procedures but were denied clearance.
"We were even summoned for meetings, but the law enforcement agents were adamant that the commemorations' agenda could raise emotions and stir violence among the people. The police clearance therefore could not be granted," he said.
The event which has been foiled for the second time this year is meant to take place annually in remembrance of an estimated 20 000 largely Ndebele speaking people who perished in Matabeleland and Midlands in the 1980s, in what has become known as the Gukurahundi Massacres.
On Saturday morning, on the supposed day of the commemorations, anti-riot police were seen milling around Stanley Square, in Mzilikazi.
Radio Dialogue reported that scores of people who had converged for the service were dispersed.
Four men who tried in vain to plead with the police were taken to Mzilikazi Police Station where they were detained before being released.
Mbuso Fuzwayo, Secretary-General of Ibhetshu Lika Zulu, the organisers of the event told Radio Dialogue how he tried in vain to obtain police clearance to hold memorial prayers for the Gukurahundi victims.
"After the 18th of January prayers, which were held outside the Bulawayo Baptist Church where people were barred by police from entering the church, we applied for police clearance to hold our commemorations but to no avail. Police cited unlawful demonstrations as their concern," he said.
Fuzwayo said this time, Ibhetshu Likazulu went through all the required procedures but were denied clearance.
"We were even summoned for meetings, but the law enforcement agents were adamant that the commemorations' agenda could raise emotions and stir violence among the people. The police clearance therefore could not be granted," he said.
The event which has been foiled for the second time this year is meant to take place annually in remembrance of an estimated 20 000 largely Ndebele speaking people who perished in Matabeleland and Midlands in the 1980s, in what has become known as the Gukurahundi Massacres.
Source - Radio Dialogue
