'Britain must pay for all ills suffered by blacks since 1890'

members of the public in Harare have called for the inclusion of provisions in the National Peace and Reconciliation Bill that would see former colonial master Britain compensating the country for all ills suffered by blacks since 1890.

This came out during a public hearing held by a joint sitting of the portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Senate Thematic committee on Human Rights and Peace and Security that were seeking people's views on the Bill held at Parliament.

"The Bill should cover issues that begin from 1890 because the whites came here and did what was totally against human rights from which we continue to suffer from even today," said participant Mr Obert Matsika from Chitungwiza.

"The whites were bad and there is no secret about that. They came here, Rhodes and his crew and squeezed our country of all its resources and took it to their country. Our diamonds, gold and other resources. Britain should give back the country's riches transferred to their countries since 1890."

Participants also raised concerns over the Bill's silence on the role of traditional leaders in the peace and reconciliation process. "The Bill should be vocal on traditional leaders and their impact in promoting the peace and reconciliation process.

"They are the rightful people to focus on in issues to do with violations that happened in their villages during the liberation struggle," said Mr Tatenda Gwarada from Bindura. Participants also urged Government and special donors to prioritise the commission.

"The National Peace and Reconciliation Bill should not be looked down upon. It is the fortress of national security hence more donors should come in and give precedence to peace and reconciliation so that all provinces, districts and wards are catered for in the Bill," said Mr Owen Ruwona from Harare.

Members of Parliament were castigated for using complicated communication terminologies whilst addressing participants at public meetings in remote areas across the country. "When MPs move around in thematic areas for public meetings like this, they use complicated jargon which some people in remote areas like Muzarabani do not understand well," said Mrs Grace Mademutsa from Sunningdale.

"You should not use jargon that is not easily understood by the public. Vernacular languages like Ndebele, Shona or Kalanga are the best to address public meetings. For instance, you were giving examples of subsections or clauses which some people do not understand hence failure to make a single contribution to the Bill."

Participants also expressed discomfort over the turning away of some intended contributors by the Parliament of Zimbabwe officials for inappropriate dress code to the meeting saying public meetings should never attract any specifications in terms of dress code or hairstyles.

The week long hearings, held in different provinces across the country were supported by the United Nations Development Programme and Southern African Parliamentary Support Trust.