Gukurahundi crimes not transferable

Gukurahundi crimes not transferable

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By Joshua Mhambi

THE press recently published statements and views on Gukurahundi and genocide in Matabeleland and Midlands, the latest of these remarks are attributed to Dr Nathan Shamuyarira, formerly of Frolizi and currently spokesman of Zanu PF.

It is a democratic right to hold and express opinions on any matter, however, it is unacceptable and unfair when such expressed opinions injure, insult and demean other groups of people intentionally or unintentionally.

We, the Elders of the Ndebele people together with representatives of 22 cultural and civic groups collectively known as Umhlahlo WeSizwe SikaMthwakazi want to make this known:

• Those begging for apology for Gukurahundi genocide are doing it for their own motives that have nothing to do with the interests of victims both the survivors and those who perished. No apology, genuine or feigned, can reverse the calamities we suffered as a people. So far, we have received no apologies and none will be solicited. One does not plan and execute to perfection what one religiously believes in only to regret it and apologize.

• The alleged calls for compensation are very insulting and demeaning to the dignity of the victims since compensation implies a price tag on their lives. The traitorous collaborators who are soliciting for compensation are worse than perpetrators of Gukurahundi and shame on them. We appreciate all the assistance that has been given by individuals and organizations to help some of the victims and this should not be confused for compensation.

• We find Dr Shamuyarira’s statements to be very unfortunate and not progressive. By claiming that Gukurahundi soldiers were protecting the people when exactly the opposite happened is not only false but very provocative. His example of the unfortunate five Shonas allegedly killed by Gwesela is calculated to incite ethnic animosities as the Gukurahundi genocide is reduced to a tit-for-tat game of who killed how many.

The people of Zimbabwe cannot be blackmailed anymore by such tribally motivated chauvinism meant to mask murder, rape and brutality. It is our sincere belief that the crimes and sins of Gukurahundi fall squarely on the perpetrators and their apologists and are not transferable to all Shona-speaking people as the cunning tribalists would want in order to create ethnic animosities.

• We appeal to all those who facilitate/organize fora or conferences like the one where such statements were made to be more considerate in future that such inflammatory, insulting and provocative statements are avoided. Lastly, we salute all our people for remaining calm in spite of extreme humiliation, dehumanization and genocide suffered.

Mhambi is a former leader of the opposition Zapu, and now heads the pressure group Umhlahlo WeSizwe SikaMthwakazi
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