News / Regional
'Compensate Gukurahundi victims'
23 Jan 2016 at 09:09hrs | Views
Compensation for Gukurahundi victims took centre stage during today's commemorations for the bloody atrocities.
Various speakers said the victims with the aid of pressure groups must intensively lobby the Robert Mugabe led Government to compensate the victims.
They said the atrocities are a national scare and shame.
Bekezela Fuzwayo of Ibhetshu likaZulu said: "It is not our wish to meet in a private place. We tried to seek audience with authorities since 2012 to hold the event in a big venue with no results."
"So we might be in a small place but its significant to gather."
The event is a remembrance of an estimated 20 000 largely Ndebele speaking people who perished in Matabeleland and Midlands in the 1980s, in what has become known as the Gukurahundi Massacres.
The commemorations run under the theme - Gukurahundi massacres: Searching for peace and national healing through compensation.
One speaker Dumisani Mpofu said compensation is key.
"We need it and must take centre stage. Community based compensation is pointless."
"We prefer individual ones" he said.
He said comprehensive research should be done on how people should be compensated.
"We should lobby the British government to release key information on what happened. The British played key role in integrating Zapu and Zanla armies."
"It will be irresponsible for British regime to conceal such information".
Other speakers said the current government will not push for national healing as the leadership was heavily involved.
Various speakers said the victims with the aid of pressure groups must intensively lobby the Robert Mugabe led Government to compensate the victims.
They said the atrocities are a national scare and shame.
Bekezela Fuzwayo of Ibhetshu likaZulu said: "It is not our wish to meet in a private place. We tried to seek audience with authorities since 2012 to hold the event in a big venue with no results."
"So we might be in a small place but its significant to gather."
The event is a remembrance of an estimated 20 000 largely Ndebele speaking people who perished in Matabeleland and Midlands in the 1980s, in what has become known as the Gukurahundi Massacres.
The commemorations run under the theme - Gukurahundi massacres: Searching for peace and national healing through compensation.
One speaker Dumisani Mpofu said compensation is key.
"We need it and must take centre stage. Community based compensation is pointless."
"We prefer individual ones" he said.
He said comprehensive research should be done on how people should be compensated.
"We should lobby the British government to release key information on what happened. The British played key role in integrating Zapu and Zanla armies."
"It will be irresponsible for British regime to conceal such information".
Other speakers said the current government will not push for national healing as the leadership was heavily involved.
Source - Byo24News
