Vusumuzi Dube
Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has expressed serious reservations regarding recent remarks by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, urging citizens to feel free and openly discuss the atrocities of Gukurahundi.
The ZCC has raised a red flag over the sincerity of these statements, arguing that fear and intimidation continue to stifle open dialogue, particularly in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces, where the scars of the Gukurahundi era remain most profound.
In a statement released to the media, the ZCC questioned the genuineness of the President’s call, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by communities in these regions.
“While the President’s remarks may appear conciliatory, the reality on the ground tells a different story. People in Matabeleland and the Midlands still live in fear, afraid to speak out about what they endured. Why is there a need to emphasize freedom of speech on an issue where the truth is already known by all? The continuous atmosphere of intimidation undermines any call for open discussions,” the statement read.
The ZCC argued that meaningful dialogue requires an environment where citizens feel safe to express their views without fear of reprisal.
However, they noted that such an environment has not yet been cultivated. Reports of intimidation, political repression, and a lack of accountability continue to silence those affected by the atrocities, leaving many to question the government’s commitment to truly addressing the issue.
The Gukurahundi massacres, which occurred in the 1980s during a military campaign in Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands, remain a deeply sensitive and unresolved issue in Zimbabwe.
Efforts to address the atrocities have been met with mixed reactions, with many citizens calling for justice, reparations, and an honest acknowledgment of the events.
The ZCC emphasized the importance of creating a platform where communities can speak without fear, urging the government to take concrete steps to foster trust and accountability. “True reconciliation cannot be achieved through words alone. It requires tangible actions that dismantle the structures of fear and oppression that continue to silence the truth,” the ZCC concluded.
President Mnangagwa’s remarks have reignited the debate on how the nation should approach the unresolved legacy of Gukurahundi, with stakeholders urging for transparency and genuine efforts to heal the wounds of the past.
During the period the President was responsible for National Security and is largely considered to be behind the massacres.
ZCC has publicly acknowledged the atrocities of Gukurahundi as a significant obstacle to peace and national healing in Zimbabwe, calling for open dialogue and government action to address the unresolved issues stemming from this period of violence, often criticizing the lack of progress in dealing with the historical trauma it caused; they actively support initiatives aimed at reconciliation and community outreach related to Gukurahundi.
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