Mphoko told to address Gukurahundi issue by Matabeleland chiefs

TRADITIONAL leaders in Matabeleland have called on Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko to step up efforts in addressing the emotive and unresolved Gukurahundi issue.

Mphoko - who is in charge of the Reconciliation ministry - recently officiated at a programme, which was launched in Matabeleland North and South provinces, to facilitate the issuance of identity documents to surviving members of Gukurahundi victims.

Chief Siphoso hailed the programme, but with reservations.

"The programme . . . is good in the sense that it has allowed many who previously had no birth certificates and death certificates, but I know that there is still a lot that should be done in terms of reconciliation," he told Mphoko.

He said many had borne the brunt of living without the necessary documents for decades.

"It's sad that the population of those people without identity cards was growing because since 1984, nothing was done to correct this," he said, adding "you will realise that many children were born but they could not get that because their parents had none or there were no death certificates".

Siphoso said issuing birth certificates was not enough.

"It's not enough. There is still need for relevant stakeholders to discuss the matter further. In fact, the VP should go a step further and try and resolve some of these outstanding issues," he said.

Chief Mathema weighed in saying the Gukurahundi victims really deserved "peace of mind" and closure.

"The truth of the matter is the victims really deserve such documents because it's their right," Mathema told the Daily News.

"The government must actually make it easy for the affected people to acquire all the documents and stop asking too many question."

Mathema challenged the government to consider taking the issue of Gukurahundi seriously.

" . . . in case of death certificates, it should be clear and recorded right on the death certificate that someone was killed by Gukurahundi, because it's no longer a secret that people died, so the records should be straight forward. Why should we hide?" he queried.

" . . . we need to go further, people need compensation and there should be a way of addressing this whole issue," he said.

Chief Nyangazonke called for decentralisation of the process.

"It's a good initiative now that people are now going to have documents so that we kill this thing of being stateless," said Nyangazonke, adding that "but we are saying let the message be sent to everybody and many centres should be created, such that we avoid a situation where people have to walk long distances to get the service".

He said there was a shocking number of people in need of identification documents.

Asked whether the issuance of certificates alone was sufficient in as far as addressing the Gukurahundi matter the chief said: "Let it not stop there, and we might say move further in trying to address what people might be complaining about."

Chief Mabhikwa described the initiative as a noble one as it will go a long way in assisting the affected population in Matabeleland.

" . . . we have seen many of them struggling to access the birth and national identity cards and this has grossly affected their lives some can't even get employed among other challenges," he said.

"The launch is a noble initiative; it will also allow those who are not registered voters to vote for the first time. But my request is the government should try to decentralise this process and ensure that it's brought closer to the people as possible."