Mthwakazi Action Group on Genocide in Matabeleland and Midlands: PO BOX 1870, Croydon, CR9 2FF,UK:http://www.maggemm.org
Breaking with the past: Zimbabwe's Golden Opportunity?
By MAGGEMM: 3/10/08
For immediate release
Zanu Pf and the two MDC parties on September 15 formally signed a deal to enter into a coalition government of some sort,
thereby giving much hope of respite to the long suffering people of Zimbabwe. In a document variously referred to as a "deal",
"agreement" and "constitution", the three parties resolved to work together towards the betterment of Zimbabwe. Three weeks on,
it still remains to be seen whether the three parties will obey the letter and spirit of the agreement. However, if the current
deadlock or squabbling over the control of key ministries is anything to go by, there is not much hope of implementing the deal.
Mthwakazi Action Group on Genocide in Matabeleland and Midlands (MAGGEMM), alongside all peace loving peoples of the world,
gives a cautious welcome to these latest developments in Zimbabwe. However, we need to first ask ourselves a far much deeper
question which is; "Will Zimbabwe grasp this golden opportunity to finally break with the past?" Aside from the obvious political
ramifications of the agreement, there are many reasons to be pessimistic about the possibility of a new, enlightened chapter in the
political history of Zimbabwe being ushered in. At first glance, the agreement signed three weeks ago doesn't offer much hope because
for all the talk about pragmatism and vision, it has all the hallmarks of political expediency. There is a worrying theme that permeates
all throughout the document and it is how much it has sought to trade in truth and justice for power.
The deal is essentially, more of a scramble for political power between the two MDCs and Zanu PF than it is a genuine attempt to break with the past and therefore herald in a new political culture in Zimbabwe. The deal is also ambiguous and vague on the question of post independence "conflicts", only promising to "give consideration to the setting up of a mechanism to advise" on these matters. To call Gukurahundi a "conflict" is a wilful attempt to sanitise the genocide by implying that there were two or more groups engaged in open warfare against each other. Yet Gukurahundi was a one-sided military attack of defenceless and unarmed civilians by the state. What seems to be on offer in the deal is impunity dressed up as pragmatism, with the country once again being held hostage by those who have most to cover up.
The victims of Gukurahundi do not care much for whatever political reasons are given in order to justify this lock on truth and justice, imposed by politicians. What they want instead, is to see and hear a firm commitment to the pursuance of truth and justice so that the veil of secrecy around Gukurahundi and other human rights abuses in Zimbabwe is lifted once and for all. The people of Matabeleland and indeed other victims of state-sponsored atrocities over the years are resolute in what they want to see happen or what mechanism they would want applied so that their pain and sorrow is healed. The mechanism we at MAGGEMM propose is a Truth, Justice and Healing Commission (TJHC), which, by its very name, highlights and reflects the order of priorities for the victims of Gukurahundi.
We therefore call upon the political signatories to the agreement and politicians in Matabeleland in particular, to take advantage of the window of opportunity offered by this deal and demand that the Gukurahundi issue be revisited and addressed. More importantly, MAGGEMM urges the victims of Gukurahundi to unite behind our call for a TJHC to be established as a matter of urgency.
MAGGEMM believes that the three areas of truth, justice and healing are prerequisite for the building of a true and lasting peace in Zimbabwe. The victims of Gukurahundi should not therefore be frog-marched by mass psychology into yet another false dawn, á la 1987. In 1987, when a similar 'deal' was signed by politicians in the aftermath of Gukurahundi, the people of Matabeleland and Midlands had hoped that they would finally get to know what was done to their loved ones. Today, they are still waiting for truth, justice and healing.
We remain cautious because we cannot take anything for granted, especially as the 2008 political deal, much like its 1987 predecessor, seeks to invert the process of peace building by excluding those who have most to say about what the priorities are. We cannot leave the questions of truth, justice and healing to politicians and political processes alone - which is why MAGGEMM will continue to bring pressure to bear on the political class of Zimbabwe so that the people of Matabeleland and Midlands are not betrayed yet again.
The veil of state secrecy surrounding Gukurahundi must be lifted and there can be no better way to lift it than to publish the findings of the Dumbutshena and Chihambakwe reports. The right to know is a fundamental principle enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and whose breach by the government of Zimbabwe is a crime against the people of Matabeleland and Midlands. As a minimum, MAGGEMM is therefore calling for the immediate release of these two reports and the urgent setting up of a Truth, Justice and Healing Commission (TJHC).
Only when these steps are taken will we be optimistic about the possibility of a true and lasting peace in Zimbabwe.
Mthwakazi Action Group on Genocide in Matabeleland & Midlands (MAGGEMM)
www.maggemm.org
Tel: +44(0)777 632 6521
Notes to Editors:
1. Mthwakazi Action Group on Genocide in Matabeleland and Midlands (MAGGEMM) is a not-for-profit group for victims of the Gukurahundi genocide in Zimbabwe between 1982 and 1988.
2. MAGGEMM is not a political party/organisation and its actions must not be viewed as such.
3. Gukurahundi is a Shona word which means "the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains" and was the codename for the government military operation in Matabeleland and Midlands between 1982 and 1988.
4. At least 20,000 people were massacred during the Gukurahundi campaign. For more information, please contact Mpho Ncube (ncubem@maggemm.org), telephone 07776326521 or visit www.maggemm.org
