Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
THE launch of the Gukurahundi public hearings tomorrow couldn’t have come at a more fitting time than in July, a month when the nation celebrates the life of the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo, a stalwart of nation-building and reconciliation.
Dr Nkomo, who passed away on July 1, 1999, at the age of 82, signed the Unity Accord alongside then Prime Minister Robert Mugabe. As leaders of PF-ZAPU and ZANU respectively, their agreement brought an end to the political conflict between the two liberation war allies.
In an interview, Mehluli Moyo, chairperson of the Joshua Nkomo Legacy Restoration Trust, stressed that tomorrow’s launch should be welcomed by all peace-loving Zimbabweans. He noted that it marks the beginning of a journey towards finding closure to the country’s dark and unfortunate past.
“We urge our people to take advantage of the process, go out there, participate and express themselves fully. People have been talking about this issue among themselves but there was no listening ear, now that there is that listening ear, let’s come out,” said Moyo.
He stated that, as a Trust, they consider the Gukurahundi issue to be extremely sensitive and believe it requires careful attention and handling.
“We find the launch by President Mnangagwa as a move that is crucial, especially when we consider that we are talking of public hearings that are people-centred. We have always wanted a platform where people can share experiences and air their views on what happened and how they would want the matter to be resolved. The most important thing is that the solution will come from the hearings, there is nobody who is coming to impose what people should say and how the matter will be concluded,” said Moyo.
He said that the process provides a platform for victims and witnesses to freely present their views without any coercion, making it a crucial step towards finding closure. He added that the way forward, post-hearings, should be based on the people’s views.
The public hearings will be conducted by traditional chiefs, assisted by rapporteurs. All have been trained and are now ready to conduct the hearings, which are expected to last three months.
“The chiefs should ensure that this opportunity reaches out to everyone willing to express their views and make sure there is no one who is going to be victimised. These hearings are certainly going to help us find each other and heal as a nation,” said Moyo.
Another crucial aspect of the hearings will be media coverage. The Government has urged the Fourth Estate to avoid inciting conflict and violence, emphasising the need for responsible reporting.
Speaking at a two-day media sensitisation workshop on the hearings in Bulawayo in February, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, stressed that journalists must report responsibly on Gukurahundi to help resolve the post-independence conflict. He highlighted that the media has a sacrosanct duty to conscientiously relay information to the public.
The workshop was organised by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) in conjunction with the Ministries of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, and Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.
“We are not here to recruit you to be couriers of our propaganda. So, those who thought that they had been called by the Government and the chiefs so that they could be conveyors of propaganda must just forget it. We are not taking away your editorial independence as the media, but asking you to work with us responsibly.”
Mr Mangwana urged the media to maintain consistent coverage of the programme, despite the possibility of repetitive narratives. He stressed the importance of continued reporting to ensure the process is thoroughly documented.
“Abandoning this programme along the way would mean you would not have done justice to your nation.”
In 2019, President Mnangagwa initiated a process of engagement on the sensitive Gukurahundi issue, encouraging citizens to openly discuss and confront this dark chapter in the nation’s history.
Online Reporter