Opinion / Columnist
The Unity Accord & Gukurahundi
17 Oct 2020 at 09:30hrs | Views
The 1987 unity accord meant nothing then to the people of Mathebeleland and the Midlands and it means nothing to them today. We said it then and we are saying it today. It actually made the leader of Zapu Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo unpopular in those regions, regardless of the fact that in the minds of many he remains adorable and the only honest political leader Zimbabwe has ever had.
For those of us who sympathized with him we felt that he entered into the agreement under duress because people in those regions were being killed and he wanted to stop the killings. Now, for some myopic mind that does not see beyond blood money to even suggest that the Gukurahundi was dealt with in that good for nothing agreement is an insult to others and myself that lost parents, relatives, neighbours and friends. I lost my father on 13 February 1983, my neighbour, my uncle and my cousin, they were buried in a shallow grave with three others. In the 1987 unity accord, ZANU PF was interested in making sure that there were going to be nomore political desenting voices in those regions after the killings and also in deceiving the world into thinking that peace had finally been made between Zapu and Zanu. Over and above all, zanu pf wanted a comradery one party state. Robert Mugabe was made a Night by the British Queen after the phoney agreement whilst the massacred remained a forgotten history. ZANU PF has been advised many times on how to approach this problem. It is either they are arogant or they have absolutely no wish to have it resolved, because why would they continue using the wrong route.
You see AmaNdebele are known as a cultured people that are administratively cute and they stress and emphasise upon good personal conduct. They will never impetuosly indulge in any endeavour without following the cultural protocol. About Gukurahundi, we have said it time and again that commissions after commissions can be engaged but as long as there is no apology administered culturally we will never arrive at a solution. You see "ukukhumisana umlotha" is an important occasion in the Ndebele culture and it is the final signature and confirmation of accepting an apology. To arrive at that you do not need to read a book of wishful thinking but to approach a senior Ndebele chief like Chief Vezi 'Maduna' Mafu and that magical cultural power of acceptance will be administered, simply. No commission has that healing power but an apology via that man will do wonders. You see, in our culture, respect, order and humility is very important. Of course they will make their demands, but I can assure you there will be no exaggerations.
Clemen Moyo
+263 712 708 284/778 662 090
clemenmoyo@gmail.com
Clemen Moyo writes in his own right as a human rights activist.
For those of us who sympathized with him we felt that he entered into the agreement under duress because people in those regions were being killed and he wanted to stop the killings. Now, for some myopic mind that does not see beyond blood money to even suggest that the Gukurahundi was dealt with in that good for nothing agreement is an insult to others and myself that lost parents, relatives, neighbours and friends. I lost my father on 13 February 1983, my neighbour, my uncle and my cousin, they were buried in a shallow grave with three others. In the 1987 unity accord, ZANU PF was interested in making sure that there were going to be nomore political desenting voices in those regions after the killings and also in deceiving the world into thinking that peace had finally been made between Zapu and Zanu. Over and above all, zanu pf wanted a comradery one party state. Robert Mugabe was made a Night by the British Queen after the phoney agreement whilst the massacred remained a forgotten history. ZANU PF has been advised many times on how to approach this problem. It is either they are arogant or they have absolutely no wish to have it resolved, because why would they continue using the wrong route.
Clemen Moyo
+263 712 708 284/778 662 090
clemenmoyo@gmail.com
Clemen Moyo writes in his own right as a human rights activist.
Source - Clemen Moyo
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