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Rights group calls for probe into suspected gukurahundi remains
6 hrs ago |
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Zimbabwean pressure group Ibhetshu LikaZulu has called for an independent forensic investigation following the discovery of human remains believed to be linked to the Gukurahundi atrocities in Silobela.
In a statement issued on Friday, the organisation said human remains were discovered in a disused mine in the Mkambeni area under Chief Malisa. Preliminary observations suggested the remains belonged to four individuals whose hands were allegedly bound with wire.
The group said the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the location were consistent with accounts of killings during the Gukurahundi period in Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands during the 1980s.
Ibhetshu LikaZulu further alleged that the remains were later removed by police from Loreto Police Camp, also known as Roma.
The organisation called for independent forensic and DNA analysis to establish the identities of the victims, the cause of death and the estimated time of death.
"The remains must be subjected to independent forensic and DNA analysis through transparent processes and institutions," the group said.
The organisation also demanded preservation of evidence, public accountability over the handling of the remains, and notification of families should identities be established.
It further said the discovery highlighted the need for a broader truth-seeking process into the Gukurahundi atrocities, including exhumations, memorialisation and reparations for victims and survivors.
"The continued discovery of mass graves more than three decades after the genocide is a stark reminder that the wounds of Matabeleland and the Midlands remain unhealed," the statement said.
The Gukurahundi massacres, which occurred in the 1980s, remain one of Zimbabwe's most sensitive historical issues, with rights groups and survivors continuing to call for justice, truth recovery and official acknowledgement of abuses committed during the period.
The Zimbabwean government had not publicly commented on the latest allegations at the time of publication.
In a statement issued on Friday, the organisation said human remains were discovered in a disused mine in the Mkambeni area under Chief Malisa. Preliminary observations suggested the remains belonged to four individuals whose hands were allegedly bound with wire.
The group said the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the location were consistent with accounts of killings during the Gukurahundi period in Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands during the 1980s.
Ibhetshu LikaZulu further alleged that the remains were later removed by police from Loreto Police Camp, also known as Roma.
The organisation called for independent forensic and DNA analysis to establish the identities of the victims, the cause of death and the estimated time of death.
The organisation also demanded preservation of evidence, public accountability over the handling of the remains, and notification of families should identities be established.
It further said the discovery highlighted the need for a broader truth-seeking process into the Gukurahundi atrocities, including exhumations, memorialisation and reparations for victims and survivors.
"The continued discovery of mass graves more than three decades after the genocide is a stark reminder that the wounds of Matabeleland and the Midlands remain unhealed," the statement said.
The Gukurahundi massacres, which occurred in the 1980s, remain one of Zimbabwe's most sensitive historical issues, with rights groups and survivors continuing to call for justice, truth recovery and official acknowledgement of abuses committed during the period.
The Zimbabwean government had not publicly commented on the latest allegations at the time of publication.
Source - Pindula
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