Zanu-PF blasts parties for politicising Gukurahundi issue

ZANU-PF has criticised other political parties for using the Gukurahundi issue to gain political mileage and further their personal agendas at the expense of people in Matabeleland region.

Addressing journalists at a Press Club meeting in Bulawayo on Friday, Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Killian Sibanda said it was irresponsible for political parties to talk of the 1980s atrocities out of context.

"Talking about it (Gukurahundi) risks disturbing peace and in any case we know that other people only want to talk about it in order to gain mileage and nothing else," said Sibanda.

He said at the time when the atrocities occurred nothing was said but now political parties want to take advantage of the issue under the pretext of expressing free speech.

"Even you journalists have a responsibility to promote peace because if the issue is not handled properly, it risks disturbing peace," said Sibanda.

He urged media houses to promote peace instead of cultivating conflict.

Sibanda also criticised the breakaway Zapu led by Dr Dumiso Dabengwa for using late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo's legacy to regain political grip in Matabeleland.

"Dr Nkomo's commemorations should be a national event that should be organised by Government officials not by mere Zapu members. If that happens, the reality is that it will be a political meeting than anything else," said Sibanda.

He said commemorating Dr Nkomo's legacy should be national to avoid a situation where other people hijacked the event for their own selfish ends.

"Zapu is losing support and the only way they can lure people into their party is to use Dr Nkomo's legacy, but that will never work," said Sibanda.

Turning to the proposed draft constitution  passed by Parliament last week, Sibanda said Zanu-PF was fully committed to it.

"We have nothing against the constitution and what I love most about it is that this charter is the will of the people," said Sibanda.

He said the fact that there was an outreach programme during the constitution-making process meant that the views of the people were adequately captured.

"We have no objections against the new constitution because it is what people want. We will be against a situation where some individuals want to impose their personal will on the people.

"That is unacceptable and we will not support that," said Sibanda.

He said they would push for a yes vote during the referendum because the principals in the inclusive Government had agreed on the contents of the constitution.

"We cannot be seen to be pulling in the opposite direction, the fact the people put what they wanted in the constitution means that we will support it at whatever cost," said Sibanda.