News / National
Nkala dismisses Gukurahundi mass graves
20 Feb 2012 at 09:09hrs | Views
Former cabinet minister Enos Nkala has denied that mass graves that are being discovered across Matabeleland region are linked to Gukurahundi atrocities.
Its widely believed that most of the mass graves dotted around Matabeleland are remains of some of the 20 000 civilians massacred by the notorious Fifth Brigade which was deployed by President Mugabe.
A mass grave was recently discovered at Silwane Primary School in Lupane while another grave is at Ntabazinduna police training depot. These mass graves are strongly believed to be of Gukurahundi victims who fell prey to the dreaded North Korean Mugabe's special army unit.
In Tsholotsho, it was recently said civilians and teachers were killed by the Fifth Brigade soldiers and buried at a pit meant for the construction of a toilet at Zimatugwa Primary School in 1982.
The brutal 1980s attack by Mugabe's men has been classified as genocide by Genocide Watch and activists want Mugabe to be dragged to The Hague for crimes against humanity.
But Nkala, who was labelled as a sell-out by the Matabeleland people for his close relations with Mugabe during the Gukurahundi dismissed reports that the graves belonged to the Gukurahundi victims.
The outspoken National Healing, Integration and Reconciliation co-Minister Moses Mzila Ndlovu has visited and confirmed that the mass graves were as a result of Gukurahundi atrocities.
Nkala said: "Who determined that the remains were of the Gukurahundi victims? Zimbabwe had many wars. It's possible the remains may be of victims of the liberation struggle or other wars that happened before
"Such assumptions are sometimes made by people when drunk and they blow things out of proportion without proof."
Nkala said people must approach district administrators who he said must take people's concerns up through government protocol to the President who may then order an action to be taken.
"People in Lupane, Tsholotsho, Plumtree and Kezi must approach their DAs to deal with those issues and address them," he said.
Gukurahundi issue is gaining momentum with the affected regions demanding it resolved.
Nkala has been accused of being involved in the atrocities which nearly whipped away his own tribe in the region, the claims which he vehemently denies.
Last year he told the media that he was the Finance Minister when soldiers from the notorious Fifth Brigade started the over 20 000 men slaughter campaign in Matabeleland and Midlands Provinces.
Nkala said he was Finance Minister at independence in 1980 up to 1983. He was then appointed National Supplies Minister up to 1985. After elections that year he served as Home Affairs and Defence Minister, in the two years leading to a unity accord which ended the Gukurahundi Massacres.
He has repeatedly told journalists to ask President Robert Mugabe over the origins of Gukurahundi as he (Nkala) is distancing himself from the brutality.
Nkala claims he opposed the massacres while he was still a cabinet minister and that was one of the reasons he does not like Mugabe.
Its widely believed that most of the mass graves dotted around Matabeleland are remains of some of the 20 000 civilians massacred by the notorious Fifth Brigade which was deployed by President Mugabe.
A mass grave was recently discovered at Silwane Primary School in Lupane while another grave is at Ntabazinduna police training depot. These mass graves are strongly believed to be of Gukurahundi victims who fell prey to the dreaded North Korean Mugabe's special army unit.
In Tsholotsho, it was recently said civilians and teachers were killed by the Fifth Brigade soldiers and buried at a pit meant for the construction of a toilet at Zimatugwa Primary School in 1982.
The brutal 1980s attack by Mugabe's men has been classified as genocide by Genocide Watch and activists want Mugabe to be dragged to The Hague for crimes against humanity.
But Nkala, who was labelled as a sell-out by the Matabeleland people for his close relations with Mugabe during the Gukurahundi dismissed reports that the graves belonged to the Gukurahundi victims.
The outspoken National Healing, Integration and Reconciliation co-Minister Moses Mzila Ndlovu has visited and confirmed that the mass graves were as a result of Gukurahundi atrocities.
Nkala said: "Who determined that the remains were of the Gukurahundi victims? Zimbabwe had many wars. It's possible the remains may be of victims of the liberation struggle or other wars that happened before
Nkala said people must approach district administrators who he said must take people's concerns up through government protocol to the President who may then order an action to be taken.
"People in Lupane, Tsholotsho, Plumtree and Kezi must approach their DAs to deal with those issues and address them," he said.
Gukurahundi issue is gaining momentum with the affected regions demanding it resolved.
Nkala has been accused of being involved in the atrocities which nearly whipped away his own tribe in the region, the claims which he vehemently denies.
Last year he told the media that he was the Finance Minister when soldiers from the notorious Fifth Brigade started the over 20 000 men slaughter campaign in Matabeleland and Midlands Provinces.
Nkala said he was Finance Minister at independence in 1980 up to 1983. He was then appointed National Supplies Minister up to 1985. After elections that year he served as Home Affairs and Defence Minister, in the two years leading to a unity accord which ended the Gukurahundi Massacres.
He has repeatedly told journalists to ask President Robert Mugabe over the origins of Gukurahundi as he (Nkala) is distancing himself from the brutality.
Nkala claims he opposed the massacres while he was still a cabinet minister and that was one of the reasons he does not like Mugabe.
Source - Zimdiaspora
