News / National
Gukurahundi probe on, 'We want proper investigations'
11 Aug 2011 at 15:25hrs | Views
Parliamentarians are pushing for the establishment of a special committee to look into the 1980s mass killings that left over 20 000 people dead in Matebeleland and Midlands provinces.
This follows a motion on national healing, cohesion and respect of victims of pre and post independence political conflicts that was moved by Hon. Severino Tall Chambati, the MP for Hurungwe East in the House of Assembly last week.
"The people in Matebeleland have never asked for money for compensation. They have only demanded for time and opportunity to be heard.
"A time to meet face to face with the perpetrators of the Gukurahundi era saying, 'my friend I am sorry' and genuinely" Mbizo MP, Hon. Settlement Chikwinya said.
The legislator said the country could not afford to rubbish this moment and say it was a moment of madness when the person who was mad is still in office.
"Here is a person who says this was a moment of madness, but Mr. Madman you are still in office administering this country. This person can still be mad anytime," said Hon. Chikwinya.
"In the, NewsDay, one Cabinet minister (Samuel Sipepa Nkomo) came out actually highlighting or articulating his experience of the Gukurahundi era. "If you can see a senior member of our community at the level of a Cabinet minister still being haunted by these moments, then the nation is not healed," he said.
As a party, the MDC has been calling for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) over the mass killings that took place during the Gukurahundi period.
This week, the Speaker of the House of Parliament and MDC National Chairperson, Hon. Lovemore Moyo said he fully backed the issue of setting up a new special committee to deal with the massacres.
"This issue really touches my heart, and MPs who move this motion will have my full support. We want proper investigations on Gukurahundi, we want to know who killed people during this period and why the people were killed.
"The results of this committee will be made public unlike previous investigations where results are still not known up to now," he said.
In 1984, the Simplicius Chihambakwe Commission of Inquiry was tasked to investigate the Gukurahundi atrocities, but its findings were never made public after Zanu PF blocked them.
Hon. Chikwinya said Zanu PF continued to fail in showing any political will as the people of Zimbabwe pursued for an environment where they can live peacefully without harming each other.
"(Robert) Mugabe was calling for people to shun violence at the New Zim Steel formerly Zisco Steel in Redcliff.
"There is no political will in Zimbabwe especially from the part of Zanu PF. As I speak right now the (MDC) district youth chairperson for Mbare (Ayaya Kassim) has been defaced by political youths identified to be from Zanu PF.
"They poured hot cooking oil on his face and he is currently being treated.
You can see that all the political violence which has happened in Mbare is being led by Chipangano, there is no political will on the part of Zanu PF to achieve national healing," said Hon. Chikwinya.
Kassim was left seriously injured after his face was scalded with hot cooking oil and is admitted in hospital.
Hon Chikwinya said at the New Zim Steel official opening, Mugabe had spoken against any form of violence.
"What is disturbing is that while the head of Zanu PF is softening up and preaching the message of non-violence, the body is stiff, hard and ejaculating violence on the other hand," he said.
Hon. Chikwinya said because of Zanu PF's grandstanding, Zimbabwe had not yet healed and there was need to create a process where the people are given a platform to air their views.
He called for a review of the annual budget of the Organ on National Healing and Reconciliation which received less than US$4 million this year.
"This means that it is less than one trip of Mugabe to the UN in a month. Mugabe spends US$4 million for him to travel with 60 people to New York to attend a Gender Youth Conference which money amounting to more than the budget for the organ of national healing.
Hon. Willard Chimbetete, Nyanga North MP said Zanu PF should practice what they preach.
In 1984, the Simplicius Chihambakwe Commission of Inquiry was tasked to investigate the Gukurahundi atrocities, but its findings were never made public after Zanu PF blocked them
"They should change the way they do things so that everyone will live in peace and harmony. National healing should be found in rural areas as well to encourage proper representation," Hon. Chimbetete said.
He said one Mr Nyamutowa, aCopac member was evicted from his Stockdale farm in Nyanga North by a group of Zanu PF members led by one Bande who were jealousy of the potato yield Nyamutowa had produced.
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This follows a motion on national healing, cohesion and respect of victims of pre and post independence political conflicts that was moved by Hon. Severino Tall Chambati, the MP for Hurungwe East in the House of Assembly last week.
"The people in Matebeleland have never asked for money for compensation. They have only demanded for time and opportunity to be heard.
"A time to meet face to face with the perpetrators of the Gukurahundi era saying, 'my friend I am sorry' and genuinely" Mbizo MP, Hon. Settlement Chikwinya said.
The legislator said the country could not afford to rubbish this moment and say it was a moment of madness when the person who was mad is still in office.
"Here is a person who says this was a moment of madness, but Mr. Madman you are still in office administering this country. This person can still be mad anytime," said Hon. Chikwinya.
"In the, NewsDay, one Cabinet minister (Samuel Sipepa Nkomo) came out actually highlighting or articulating his experience of the Gukurahundi era. "If you can see a senior member of our community at the level of a Cabinet minister still being haunted by these moments, then the nation is not healed," he said.
As a party, the MDC has been calling for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) over the mass killings that took place during the Gukurahundi period.
This week, the Speaker of the House of Parliament and MDC National Chairperson, Hon. Lovemore Moyo said he fully backed the issue of setting up a new special committee to deal with the massacres.
"This issue really touches my heart, and MPs who move this motion will have my full support. We want proper investigations on Gukurahundi, we want to know who killed people during this period and why the people were killed.
"The results of this committee will be made public unlike previous investigations where results are still not known up to now," he said.
In 1984, the Simplicius Chihambakwe Commission of Inquiry was tasked to investigate the Gukurahundi atrocities, but its findings were never made public after Zanu PF blocked them.
Hon. Chikwinya said Zanu PF continued to fail in showing any political will as the people of Zimbabwe pursued for an environment where they can live peacefully without harming each other.
"(Robert) Mugabe was calling for people to shun violence at the New Zim Steel formerly Zisco Steel in Redcliff.
"There is no political will in Zimbabwe especially from the part of Zanu PF. As I speak right now the (MDC) district youth chairperson for Mbare (Ayaya Kassim) has been defaced by political youths identified to be from Zanu PF.
"They poured hot cooking oil on his face and he is currently being treated.
You can see that all the political violence which has happened in Mbare is being led by Chipangano, there is no political will on the part of Zanu PF to achieve national healing," said Hon. Chikwinya.
Kassim was left seriously injured after his face was scalded with hot cooking oil and is admitted in hospital.
Hon Chikwinya said at the New Zim Steel official opening, Mugabe had spoken against any form of violence.
"What is disturbing is that while the head of Zanu PF is softening up and preaching the message of non-violence, the body is stiff, hard and ejaculating violence on the other hand," he said.
Hon. Chikwinya said because of Zanu PF's grandstanding, Zimbabwe had not yet healed and there was need to create a process where the people are given a platform to air their views.
He called for a review of the annual budget of the Organ on National Healing and Reconciliation which received less than US$4 million this year.
"This means that it is less than one trip of Mugabe to the UN in a month. Mugabe spends US$4 million for him to travel with 60 people to New York to attend a Gender Youth Conference which money amounting to more than the budget for the organ of national healing.
Hon. Willard Chimbetete, Nyanga North MP said Zanu PF should practice what they preach.
In 1984, the Simplicius Chihambakwe Commission of Inquiry was tasked to investigate the Gukurahundi atrocities, but its findings were never made public after Zanu PF blocked them
"They should change the way they do things so that everyone will live in peace and harmony. National healing should be found in rural areas as well to encourage proper representation," Hon. Chimbetete said.
He said one Mr Nyamutowa, aCopac member was evicted from his Stockdale farm in Nyanga North by a group of Zanu PF members led by one Bande who were jealousy of the potato yield Nyamutowa had produced.
Download MDC Newsletter Edition 080
Source - MDC
