Vusumuzi Dube
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
A special subcommittee that was put in place by the National Chiefs Council (NCC) to spearhead the commencement of Gukurahundi hearings is this week expected to meet and finalise recommendations that will be presented to the council for implementation.
Last month the NCC finished the training of more than 1 000 people that will assist chiefs during the Gukurahundi hearings in Matabeleland provinces. The hearings were expected to commence this month.
Since coming to power, President Mnangagwa placed traditional leaders at the centre of finding home grown solutions to issues arising out of the Gukurahundi conflict with him having met traditional leaders several times to deliberate on the matter.
The final report by the subcommittee will pave way for the commencement of the public hearings.
In an interview with Sunday News yesterday, president of the chiefs’ council, Chief Mtshane Khumalo said the subcommittee was established and made responsible for the day-to-day deliberations towards planning of the public hearings.
He revealed that the meeting, that was scheduled for this week would be meant to deliberate on the final recommendations which would then be presented to the NCC.
“This subcommittee was established after we realised that the whole lot of the NCC cannot be tasked with the day-to-day deliberations and engagements for the commencement of the public hearing as this would become a cumbersome process. We then selected a few chiefs from the Matabeleland region to constitute this subcommittee.
“It is this subcommittee that is tasked with making recommendations that will then be forwarded to the NCC for deliberation and endorsement, thereafter they are communicated to the Office of the President for implementation. The subcommittee will be meeting at the end of next (this) week to finalise on the recommendations that will then presented to the NCC,” said Chief Mtshane.
On the progress that has been made to date regarding the Gukurahundi issue, the NCC president said he was excited, paying particular homage to President Mnangagwa on his commitment to ensuring that the matters were brought to fruition.
“Looking at where we started and where we are today, it shows you that the Government is committed to bringing this issue to a close. After our meeting this week we will surely be at the tail’s end of this whole process and the public hearings can commence.
“It is now our plea for the public to also play their part during these hearings, take it seriously and cooperate so that the issues can be finally resolved,” said Chief Mtshane.
To date 1 008 people have been trained to assist the chiefs during the hearings.
The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission is working closely with chiefs to ensure post-conflict justice, healing, and reconciliation, including developing programmes that promote national healing and peaceful conflict resolution.
The Gukurahundi community hearing programme was launched by President Mnangagwa and is in sync with the national cohesion processes that started when the Unity Accord was signed on December 22, 1987. The Unity Accord brought together Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu under the banner of Zanu-PF.
The former late President Cde Robert Mugabe and Father Zimbabwe, the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo signed the agreement, ending the post-independence conflict.
Upon assuming power, President Mnangagwa declared that the country needs to confront its dark past by taking a bold step towards finding a lasting solution and fostering national unity for the healing of the victims.
Online Reporter