Gukurahundi – The Zimbabwean government is facing increasing pressure to halt the ongoing Gukurahundi public hearings as political parties, civic organizations, and regional stakeholders intensify their campaign for greater transparency and international oversight of the process. The hearings, aimed at addressing the dark legacy of the 1980s massacres in Matabeleland and Midlands, have come under fire for lacking credibility, inclusivity, and independence.
More than ten political parties, including prominent groups like Zapu and the Freedom Alliance, have joined forces in an alliance challenging the government-led initiative. They argue that the public hearings, convened by traditional leaders and managed under close government supervision, are being conducted behind closed doors with minimal media coverage. This secrecy, they claim, undermines the legitimacy of the process and signals a lack of genuine commitment to confronting past atrocities.
Critics have been vocal in rejecting any attempt to “sanitize” the hearings or legitimize what they describe as a “grossly flawed and dishonest process.” The deep mistrust surrounding the hearings has fueled calls for their suspension pending a more transparent, victim-centered approach.
Ibhetshu LikaZulu, a leading human rights advocacy organization, has been among the most vocal critics. The group’s Secretary-General, Mbuso Fuzwayo, condemned the hearings as “deeply flawed” and “a tragic mockery of justice.” He highlighted serious concerns regarding the lack of transparency, the exclusion of genuine victim participation, and the heavy-handed involvement of state actors in controlling the narrative.
Calls Mount for Suspension of Gukurahundi Public Hearings Amid Growing Criticism
“The process is fundamentally compromised because it is led by the very perpetrators of the genocide,” Fuzwayo stated, referring to the ruling Zanu PF party. Under Zanu PF’s leadership, thousands of civilians in Matabeleland and Midlands were killed during the Gukurahundi atrocities, making its stewardship of the reconciliation process inherently conflicted.
Fuzwayo further criticized the role of traditional chiefs, arguing that they have been co-opted into a political agenda rather than serving as impartial facilitators of justice. “Chiefs have been roped into a political agenda, not a justice process,” he asserted. “The hand that committed the atrocities is the same hand dictating the terms of ‘reconciliation.’”
The group also raised alarm over how testimonies are being collected without transparency, and how final reports will be compiled and verified. Survivors reportedly remain unaware of who is documenting their experiences or whether their stories will be accurately represented. “Survivors do not even know who is documenting their pain, or whether their narratives will be distorted or silenced altogether,” Fuzwayo said.
Ibhetshu LikaZulu warned that the hearings are taking place in an environment marked by fear, surveillance, and political repression—factors that stifle open and honest participation. “This is not reconciliation—it is propaganda,” Fuzwayo concluded. “Suggesting that victims should be grateful for such a process is not only insulting, it is retraumatizing.”
The Matabeleland Residents Party (MRP), led by Mqondisi Moyo, revealed they have petitioned the United Nations to intervene in the Gukurahundi issue. The petition was submitted to UN offices in Pretoria on July 4, and the party is awaiting a response expected within one to three months.
“We have also escalated issues around self-determination and the Gukurahundi genocide,” Moyo told Southern Eye on Sunday. He added that the MRP has petitioned the South African government concerning harassment faced by Matabeleland and Midlands survivors domiciled in South Africa, where thousands of victims reside.
“This community represents survivors of the Gukurahundi genocide, yet they face continued persecution,” Moyo said.
In a joint statement, Matabeleland-based political parties echoed these concerns and announced the formation of an alliance aimed at driving a justice campaign for the Gukurahundi genocide. They have invited all progressive forces to join in the call for a genuine, transparent, and just process to address the issue and promote healing and national reconciliation.
The statement emphasized their intention to campaign not only locally but also nationally, regionally, and internationally to pressure the Zimbabwean government into meaningful action.
The alliance stressed that the government’s current approach falls short, contrasting it with the precedent set after the August 1, 2018 shootings in Harare. Following that tragedy, the government appointed an eminent commission led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to investigate the incident.
“It is only fair that a similar commission, led by an external and respected figure, be appointed to investigate Gukurahundi,” the statement declared.
This call underscores widespread distrust in internal mechanisms perceived to be controlled or influenced by those implicated in the historical violence.
As the controversy intensifies, the government faces a critical choice: either to suspend the current public hearings and engage in an inclusive, transparent process with credible independent oversight—or risk further alienation of victims, political instability, and international condemnation. The voices of survivors and advocates are clear in demanding justice and reconciliation rooted in truth, accountability, and respect for the memories of those lost during Zimbabwe’s darkest era.
Source- Newsady
