A quick response to Manheru and Mphoko

The recent utterances by the new vice president of Zimbabwe P Mphoko and the shadowy   character Manheru (Herald and government owned newspaper columnist) over the Gukurahundi atrocities make some disturbing reading however the roundup of condemnation from all opposition, victim and some civil society organisations is very reassuring.

Mphoko joins his other presidium colleagues who have muted responses such as 'moment of madness'- Mugabe and 'closed chapter' - Mnangagwa. I take it he has not read the brilliant report by the CCJP 1997 entitled 'Breaking the silence, building true peace' nor the Lawyers Committee for Human rights report of 1984. Since he is part of the presidium maybe he can tell us what happened, and what are the contents of the Dumbutshena and Chihambakwe government commissioned reports which ZANU consistently refuse to release 30 years on.

He could also do by having a chat with fellow cabinet associates Jonathan Moyo and Kembo Muhadi who have had family related first-hand experience of Gukurahundi. The former having close relative killed during the atrocities and the later was assaulted and imprisoned without trail during the disturbances.

The esteemed vice president might have to seriously look into how and why in this century children playing football can accidentally come across a mass grave - St Pauls Mission Bulawayo 2011. Explain the recovery of the remains of Grey Ndlovu in Msthabezi this year who had been missing for over 30 years and those of remains of Nehemiah Nkala all linked to the fifth brigade. If you got time Sir you can view a mass grave in Nkayi filmed by the BBC on YouTube. Is there a 'western conspiracy' linked to the fate of these people?

Since our elderly president does not miss a trip to the UN general assembly may we remind Mphoko and Manheru that Zimbabwe is signatory to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide [i] and has ratification status on Torture and other Inhuman or Degrading treatment or Punishment. . The International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from enforced Disappearance (UN 2006 [1] ) offers the right for victims of conflict to know the truth about the fate of their loved ones- Right to Know. So the victims of Gukurahundi, election violence and the Marange diamonds are not going anywhere soon.

Considering that you have the portfolio for Truth and Reconciliation and yet you make statements such as these without merit is an insult to all peace loving Zimbabweans. The general consensus is you are singing for your super and it underscores why you have been catapulted to your present position. Some sixteen countries in Europe consider 'genocide denial' such as yours an offence. Unless you try and 'Nikuv' the constitution your hands are now bound by it under article 6 sec 251-2 to set up a T & C.

The truth is in the pudding, if both Manheru and Mphoko want to unmask their so called myths then there are people ready to prove you otherwise, the Argentinian team recovered remains at Magumbo dip tank in 1999 have a comprehensive plan to locate and rebury remains in accordance with local custom and with blessing of victim groups. Organisations such as Ibhetshu Likazulu, Gukurahundi Genocide Survivors for Justice (GGS4J, Zimbabwe Victims of Organized Violence Trust (ZIVOVT). ZAPU, the MDCs and Amani Trust are not going away. Why should we have one rule for people who can be buried with dignity at Heroes Acre and another rule for rest? As they say the dead shall not bury themselves.

Gukurahundi.scholar@gmail.com