News / Local
Matabeleland has never known peace since independence
22 Jan 2016 at 05:30hrs | Views
Human Rights activist Khumbu Maphosa has said Matabeleland Region has never known peace and stability since independence in 1980.
"Since 1980 when Zimbabwe got its independence, the people of Matabeleland have not enjoyed human rights," he said.
He said between 1982 and 87 the region was hit by Gukurahundi , a government sponsored genocide, between 1992 and 1995, the region was hit by Economic Structural Adjustment which led to mass retrenchments, between 1998 and 2008 there was political intimidation and operation Murambatsvina and also loss of jobs due to farm invasions and economic melt down and forced migration together with xenophobia in South Africa and victimisation in Botswana.
He said between 2009 and 2014 drought, loss of jobs due to closure of companies in Bulawayo and unfair budgetary allocations affected the region most.
""Issues of underdevelopment, tribal discrimination, deployment of civil servants who do not speak local languages and expropriation of natural resources have been with the people of Matabeleland since 1980," he said.
"Since 1980 when Zimbabwe got its independence, the people of Matabeleland have not enjoyed human rights," he said.
He said between 2009 and 2014 drought, loss of jobs due to closure of companies in Bulawayo and unfair budgetary allocations affected the region most.
""Issues of underdevelopment, tribal discrimination, deployment of civil servants who do not speak local languages and expropriation of natural resources have been with the people of Matabeleland since 1980," he said.
Source - Byo24News
