News / National
Mphoko provokes fresh Gukurahundi storm
16 Jun 2015 at 07:52hrs | Views
VICE-President Phelekezela Mphoko must lobby for the reburial of Gukurahundi victims and compensation of survivors instead of seeking to airbrush history, a top MDC official has said. Mphoko, who was elevated to the vice-presidency last December to represent the Zapu component in Zanu PF, said Gukurahundi was a Western conspiracy.
According to the Southern Eye, MDC Matabeleland South chairperson Pilate Ndebele said Mphoko's recent statements seeking to absolve President Robert Mugabe of the 1980s atrocities in Matabeleland and the Midlands were provocative.
The VP last week told the National Assembly he would soon propose a law to promote national healing, but said continued debate about Gukurahundi was not helpful.
Ndebele said instead of trying to deny Gukurahandi happened, Mphoko should be working towards national healing.
Ndebele suggested that Mphoko must ask his government to exhume victims who have been lying in the bush for more than 30 years now and arrange their decent reburials. He said as long as these issues are not put to rest in a proper manner, Mphoko must forget that people will ever forget Gukurahundi.
"Mphoko must not think that people can forget Gukurahundi just because he has become a vice-president."
Mphoko, in his maiden speech in the National Assembly, said he would soon introduce a Bill to facilitate national peace and reconciliation.
He said it was not in the nation's interest to go back to Gukurahundi, but to move forward and find ways to improve lives of people who were affected during the period.
According to the Southern Eye, MDC Matabeleland South chairperson Pilate Ndebele said Mphoko's recent statements seeking to absolve President Robert Mugabe of the 1980s atrocities in Matabeleland and the Midlands were provocative.
The VP last week told the National Assembly he would soon propose a law to promote national healing, but said continued debate about Gukurahundi was not helpful.
Ndebele said instead of trying to deny Gukurahandi happened, Mphoko should be working towards national healing.
"Mphoko must not think that people can forget Gukurahundi just because he has become a vice-president."
Mphoko, in his maiden speech in the National Assembly, said he would soon introduce a Bill to facilitate national peace and reconciliation.
He said it was not in the nation's interest to go back to Gukurahundi, but to move forward and find ways to improve lives of people who were affected during the period.
Source - Southern Eye
