Chiefs assure Gukurahundi transparency
AS the country prepares for the imminent roll out of public hearings to resolve the Gukurahundi issue, chiefs have assured affected communities of transparency and provision of safe spaces to victims and witnesses who may not be comfortable giving their accounts in public.
Government has mandated chiefs to spearhead the hearings in affected communities and yesterday the traditional leaders were finalising on their preparations including training of some traditional leaders who had not participated in the initial exercise.
At least 1 008 individuals including chiefs and their panel committee, which includes counsellors, rapporteurs, religious leaders, among others have been trained to conduct the community hearings.
The community hearings are expected to proffer solutions on how to deal with the early 1980s civil conflict, which affected most areas in Matabeleland and the Midlands.
Following a recent high-level meeting in the State House in Bulawayo, chiefs have requested President Mnangagwa to officially launch the start of the Gukurahundi community hearings in Gwanda, Matabeleland South during the first quarter of this year. However, the exact date is yet to be advised.
A victim-centred approach has been adopted for the Gukurahundi hearing process with the Government emphasising the need to come up with homegrown solutions in addressing national problems.
Between yesterday and today, Chief Madliwa from Nkayi District and 17 other chiefs from, all from Matabeleland North as well as Chief Malaba and Chief Mphini from Matabeleland South who had missed the initial training programme, were being trained on how the community engagements will be undertaken to ensure the smooth hearings process.
National Council of Chiefs president, Chief Mtshane Khumalo, said tomorrow another meeting will be held to finalise on the launch date for the community hearings, which will be done at ward level so as to reduce the walking distance for the victims and witnesses, most of whom are now of old age.
Chief Mtshane said all systems were ready for the programme to be rolled out but clarified that the exact date will be given by President Mnangagwa whose administration has committed itself to addressing the country’s dark and emotive past.
Already the Government has availed information communication technology gadgets to be used during the public hearings.
“We came up with a document that will guide us in these hearings, which will be ward-based and public but we are alive to the fact that some witnesses and victims may not be comfortable with submitting their accounts in public,” said Chief Mtshane.
“A safe space will be provided for such situations so that they can freely give their accounts, again when expressing their reservations about publicly giving their accounts, they won’t have to say so in the glare of the public, no, they have to approach any of the rapporteurs and arrangements will then be made.”