Zapu labels Gukurahundi outreach a 'disaster'

Published: 2 hours ago

The Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) has condemned the ongoing Gukurahundi outreach programme, warning that the initiative is flawed, insensitive, and risks re-traumatising survivors rather than promoting reconciliation.

Zapu leader Sibangilizwe Nkomo accused the government of rolling out the programme through chiefs who lack the autonomy and independence required to handle such a delicate process.

"Despite early warning signs, public outcry, and Zapu's premonitions about the dangers of conducting an illegal, flawed, and one-sided programme meant to address the Gukurahundi genocide, President Mnangagwa proceeded to commission chiefs to preside over a project clearly set to fail," Nkomo said.

The chief-led outreach programme was touted as a step toward finding closure to the mass killings in Matabeleland and Midlands during the 1980s, in which an estimated 20 000 people - mainly ZAPU supporters - were killed by the North Korea-trained 5 Brigade. Scholars have described the killings as genocide.

Reports indicate that several outreach meetings have been cancelled due to poor attendance or lack of resources, leaving survivors distressed. Some elderly participants reportedly collapsed while reliving traumatic memories, while others were allegedly blocked from asking questions. Nkomo also alleged that in some instances, chiefs coerced villagers to attend meetings under threat of reprisals.

"The programme in its current form offers little in terms of justice or closure," Nkomo said. He questioned the credibility of official figures, noting that State media reported identical attendance of 5 000 participants in each province, despite evident resistance from communities.

ZAPU is calling for an inclusive and independent process involving survivors, families of victims, churches, civil society, lawyers, academics, media practitioners, and regional actors with reconciliation experience, such as South Africa and Rwanda.

"The outreach programme is a small poultice attempting to cover a large, festering wound," Nkomo said. "It is far too inadequate to provide meaningful redress, much less healing and closure."

Gukurahundi remains one of Zimbabwe's darkest chapters. While the 1987 Unity Accord ended the violence, government has faced accusations of suppressing debate and sealing key reports, leaving survivors without justice or redress for decades.

Nkomo warned that unless the process is overhauled, it risks compounding the pain of survivors. "This is not merely a regional issue but a national sore. Let us all be open and sincere in dealing with it," he said.
- southern eye

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