Matabeleland chiefs have written a petition to President Emmerson Mnangagwa bemoaning their alleged economic marginalisation which they said should be corrected under the new dispensation.

In the petition, Avoca Filabusi Communal lands chief, Vezi Maduna-Mafu, noted that locals in most Matabeleland regions including Hwange, Lupane, and Binga, among others, are excluded in developmental projects which are supposed to benefit them and their communities.
Mafu noted that the marginalisation dates back to as early as 1981 when the Gukurahundi genocide occurred but has now transformed into economic genocide.
He urged the president to create a commission that is not the National Peace and Reconciliation commission (NPRC) to look into the Gukurahundi genocide which he feels is the root cause of Matabeleland locals’ problems.
“Appoint a new commission which is separate from the NPRC to specifically handle the 1981 to
1987 Ndebeles’ genocide/Gukurahundi,” Mafu
said.
He pointed out that government has been turning a blind eye on the issue yet most people still have unhealed wounds.
The Filabusi leader added that as chiefs, they have been trying to have an interface with Mnangagwa to lodge their complaints but were
blocked.
“All these points, if taken into account, make it very difficult to directly engage in dialogue over
the 1981 to 1987 Ndebele massacre/
Gukurahundi as these points clearly indicate a sign of no sincerity over the past unhealed wounds.Daily News