Ray Nkosi | The Zimbabwean government has been put to task over undocumented victims of the Gukurahundi atrocities who are now stateless in South-Africa.
Activist Nqabhuto Mabhena gave an update of his recent encounter with Zimbabwe’s Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo over the matter of undocumented victims of the 1980’s genocide.
“Cde Dinizulu Mbiko Macaphulana suggested in the morning that, l should ask Minister Chombo, the Zimbabwean Minister of Home Affairs about what his government is doing to document victims of Gukurahundi , most of whom are now stateless in South Africa,” said Mabhena.
After he put the question to Chombo, the response he got was, “the office of the Register General will work with the South African Home Affairs dept in documenting undocumented Zimbabweans who are based in South Africa. Most of the people missed out on special permits in 2010 because they could not qualify to apply for passports.”
“We will be working with his office and the embassy to ensure that those who are not documented, do get the necessary assistance. Minister Gigaba is also interested in this project,” reported back Mabhena.
BULAWAYO AND MATEBEKELAND IN GENERAL IS SUPPOSED TO BE CONTRIBUTING A LOT MORE THAN IT IS IN THE ECONOMY. ITS NOT A CONCIDENCE THAT IT IS NOT. IT IS BY DESIGN THAT IT IS NEVER ALLOWED BY POLICY TO DO SO. IT START FROM BACK THERE DURING GUKURAHUNDI RIGHT TO SUPPRESSION OF THE ZAMBEZI MATEBELELAND WATER PROJECT TO NAME A FEW. CORRECTION NEEDS TO GO TO THE CORE….RIGHT BACK THERE
In as much as this is a pressing issue, don’t we have other serious and current issues we should be prioritizing now. Or else it is our distinctive characteristic as Zimbabweans that we seem not to bother about current problems only to address them after about three decades.
Shonas in general should stay clear of this Gukurahundi issue.
Dr Joshua Nkomo long explained this in an interview in London. It had nothing; and even today, still has nothing to do with Shona people per se.
This is the line that should be drilled into the thick skull of that Shona ZANU PF MP Katsiru, over his primitive argument regarding the proposed NPRC Bill Gukurahundi reparations. This is a Mthwakazi versus ZANU PF/Mugabe government issue.
If you keep throwing yourselves into the mix and deliberately conflating it with your alleged 1890s tribal wars; for sure, you will receive blows intended for the offender!!
As much as I sympathise for the victims of gukurahundi I have to say the perpetrators of this genocide are now old and some already dead.In the next 10 years hardly anyone will be accountable because they will be 6 feet deep,unless they want to hold every shona responsible.
Are you serious?
21st March Matebele Genocide demonstrations in South Africa
The
time is drawing nigh for the historic anti-gukurahundi genocide march which
will reverberate in Johannesburg on the 21st March 2017 under the auspices of
uLoyiko. Gukurahundi is a Shona word which means early rain that washes away
the chuff, this was an operation which took place in the areas of Matebeleland
and Midlands in 1982 to 1987. The operation from the onset bore all the
hallmarks of a genocide which was fuelled by tribal hatred and inferiority
complex of the new government. The international organisation Genocide Watch
has since officially declared gukurahundi as a Matebeleland Genocide.
The Siphesakhe Youth Organisation wrote a theatre play called uLoyiko whose
thrust is to uncover what really happened during the genocide. The play has
slowly but surely gained prominence particularly within the Matebeleland
community in South Africa, but also it is gaining inroads within the South
African community.
“We cannot blame our fellow South Africans for lack of knowledge of this
genocide, our leaders have been so quiet about it, it is as if they knew
nothing about the genocide” Mr Yanga Mhluzi the Public relations officer
for uLoyiko explained. He continued “we have taken this upon our shoulders
to educate our fellow South Africans about the evils of tribal hatred which led
to the Matebele genocide, in the process we are confident that we shall awaken
the Matebeles from their fear so they work towards their emancipation”.
The demonstration on the 21st March against the gukurahundi genocide it is
going to be the first of its kind in South Africa, it is going to be a noise
and exciting event which will see the convergence of many different
stakeholders, which will include the South African human rights activists,
ordinary members of the public and the Matebele community at large.
We
arrived in Johannesburg yesterday, and some of the prominent invited guests
have started arriving as well, in attendance at the historic demonstrations
would be Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni, Dr Dumiso Dabengwa ZAPU President; Mqondisi
Moyo-President of MRP; Ibhetshu likaZulu, Mr Silonda- Chair of uMhlahlo wesizwe
Sika Mthwakazi and Moses Mzila -President of ANSA” Mr Mhluzi said.
This is an interesting line-up, however, Mr Mhluzi indicated that the list is
not exhaustive as some invited guests are still confirming their attendance.
Mr Mhluzi informed this writer that tomorrow they will be performing uLoyiko
theatre play at Market Theatre.
When asked of the purpose of the demonstration, Mr Mhluzi eloquently responded
as follows “Firstly, we aim to expose the genocide which has been hidden
under the carpet for three decades, second, we need to expose the culture of
impunity which has developed in Zimbabwe which may encourage another genocide;
thirdly, we are seeking justice for the victims, we aim to mobilise human
rights activists in South Africa and beyond to pile pressure on the relevant
regional and international bodies”
“We are taking this to the next level now, our first phase was the theatre
play but we soon realised that theatre on its own will not change the status
quo, the perpetrators of the genocide are still oppressing the Matebeles
without shame and relentlessly. We therefore implore the whole of Matebeleland
in South Africa to be part of this revolution, if they come in great numbers
their plight will never be ignored by the international community” Mr
Mhluzi said inviting the masses.
Over the years, the people of Mthwakazi have spoken in hushed tones about their
plight in Zimbabwe, but of late they are surely regaining their voice and their
cause is gaining currency.