Interview: Author Brandon Michaels
Brandon Michaels is the author of a recently published non-fiction book called "Echoes from the Grave" in which he explores issues around the impact Gukurahundi has had on the people of Matabeleland. MAGGEMM put these questions to him recently.
1. First of all, please tell us what "Echoes from the grave" is all about.
"Echoes from the Grave" is a voice from the victims of Robert Mugabe's Gukurahundi genocide. They need to know why the issue of Gukurahundi has not yet been addressed. It tries to trace the probable reasons why Mugabe unleashed such terror on the people of Matabeleland. In order to achieve this, we had to trace the history of the Ndebele dating back to the birth of the Nation under the founding father King Mzilikazi
2. How long did it take to write the book?
I literally started working on the book in early 2004. We can safely say it took one over 4 years to finally put the book together. But the issue of the Gukurahundi genocide had been bugging me for a long time before that.
3. This is yet another book about G'hundi. Is it a good thing that material about the massacres is still coming out?
It is a good thing because we want future generations to know about the good, bad and evil aspects of the history of Zimbabwe. We can not let the issue lie in closets until the end of time. What's more, the perpetrators need to be arrested and tried in a court of Law. Justice must be done.
4. How real was the pain and sorrow of the victims you spoke to?
It was evident from the few that we spoke to that they still have open wounds in their hearts and souls. They escaped by a whisker from the jaws of death and some lost close family members. What pains them more than anything though, is seeing their pain continue to be ignored and the perpetrators in power, carrying on as if nothing happened Also, the majority of those who did not want to discuss this issue with us exhibited expressions of fear.
5. Are we ever going to hear the testimonies of the thousands of silent victims out there?
If we can get a government that is democratic and will set up a TRC similar to the one we had in South Africa, surely I do not see the reason why the silent victims would not want to share with the rest of the world their testimonies.
6. Are you involved in any work to help victims of G'hundi?
Not yet but my organization is looking at working with organizations that are already working with the victims. One of the criteria that we will be looking at is working with any organization that is out to help the victims and not use the victims for their own political agendas.
