Chronicle Editor
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
TRADITIONAL leaders from the Matabeleland and Midlands have started working on modalities of addressing problems from the Gukurahundi period that affected people from those areas.
President Mnangagwa recently reached an agreement with the traditional leaders that will see them lead the process to help bring closure to the matter and will also result in the Government providing social security benefits among a host of other benefits and amenities to victims of Gukurahundi as part of the President’s move to come up with a lasting solution.
Contacted for comment on the progress that has been made to date, deputy president of the National Council of Chiefs, Chief Mtshane Khumalo said chiefs were already on the ground working on modalities of engaging the victims of Gukurahundi in their jurisdiction.
He, however, called on the public to be patient as this was not a process that could be solved overnight.
“What I should point out is that this is a long process which we have to handle with care due to its sensitivity. For now the chiefs and their headmen are busy working on the road map to be taken that will see this issue finally being resolved.
As the President said during our meeting with him, this matter should not be approached from a one-size-fits-all perspective but each chief must come up with an approach that best suits his area of jurisdiction of course in consultation with the victims themselves,” said Chief Mtshane.
He revealed that in the run up to the meeting with the President, the traditional leaders had met with 23 organisations from the three provinces as part of the processes to be followed in resolving the matter.
“What I am happy about is that people are fully aware of what is now happening and they are satisfied with all the processes that are taking place. With our meeting with these 23 organisations I am confident that finally we will bring closure to this issue,” said Chief Mtshane.
Commenting on moves by Bulawayo based pressure group IbhetshuLikaZulu of erecting Gukurahundi memorial plaques at various sites in the provinces, Chief Mtshane said it was important for all organisations to work as a unit to resolve the matter rather than having one organisation emerging to confuse the whole process.
“This is not the time for us to be fighting each other but the time for us to work together in resolving this matter. Let us give chiefs and their headmen the opportunity to lead the process and ensure that finally this issue is resolved,” said Chief Mtshane.
Last month, President Mnangagwa met the National Council of Chiefs at State House in Bulawayo, where among other things, each chief was tasked to resolve issues within their area of jurisdiction by consulting with local communities on their needs and expectations.
The Government will then provide resources to implement the plans to be led by traditional leaders. The meeting came after a number of meetings have been held by the President with various stakeholders with the aim of finding a lasting resolution to the Gukurahundi issue.
Online Reporter