By A Correspondent- The late vice president Joshua Nkomo’s son, Sibangalizwe Nkomo, said people of Matabeleland would not recognize President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Gukurahundi meeting he held at the weekend.

Nkomo has said Mnangagwa held the meeting with bogus people who are not victims of the 1980s’ genocide.

Below is Sibangalizwe’s statement.

Following the meeting between the Head of State Mr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and Traditional Leaders on the 21st of August 2021, I am convinced more than ever that the Government of Zimbabwe is not sincere about solving the issue of Gukurahundl. This Is because I strongly feel the process is fundamentally flawed for the following reasons:

Mr Mnangagwa Is said to have met with Matabeleland based Civic Society Organizations under the banner of the Matabeleland Collective. The public must know the exact identity of the so-called CSOs and what their interest is In Gukurahundi. There is also need to clarify where this group gets its mandate from. On the 7th of February 2020, the grouping of these CSOs split with those that have a track record of working with our people leaving the Matabeleland Collective. The government must then let the public know who exactly is Matabeleland Collective. Those who left, amongst many reasons cited state control of those negotiating with Mr Mnangagwa. As such, the Impartiality of these people is now heavily compromised. We cannot have a situation where the perpetrator has monologues with himself and then makes resolutions for the people. Our people must reject Matabeleland Collective with the contempt It deserves.