The Sunday Mail
Dr Obert Moses Mpofu
HOW does one correct old mistakes and ensure the future is not weighed down by the past?
The simple answer is through confronting such issues with an open mind and pure intentions.
History should never be allowed to be a burden that prevents a people from moving forward and developing their nation.
Sins and mistakes of old must always be confronted as this is a critical ingredient of nation-building.
For decades, Zimbabwe has limped on, with the Gukurahundi issue acting like a grain of sand inside one’s shoe.
For a very long time, it had become very difficult to nearly impossible to talk about this issue with clarity.
Even though there were some previous attempts that were made towards resolving this thorny and very difficult issue, it seems the wounds did not fully heal.
Previously, there was the Unity Accord, which sought to bring harmony among all the peoples of this country.
The Unity Accord of 1987, which served as the foundation of efforts aimed at addressing Gukurahundi issues, was consummated against the efforts of hostile elements, some of which were instrumental in sowing seeds of division among us.
Consequently, even though the Unity Accord was a notable turning point in the country’s history, as it resulted in the birth of ZANU PF and remarkable unity within the country, the Gukurahundi issue still remained outstanding.
Openly speaking about this difficult issue had in previous years become taboo.
As a result, there is a lot that is unknown about this sad part of our country’s history.
Not enough research or outreach has been done on the matter.
There are, therefore, some among us who are oblivious to the fact that Gukurahundi indeed happened and put a dent on the lives of communities that were affected by it.
Many should know that Gukurahundi is and was never a tribal issue, but rather a national issue that now requires a lasting national solution.
With this in mind, His Excellency, President E.D. Mnangagwa, has taken the bold step to definitively address this issue that has weighed our great nation down for decades by initiating the Gukurahundi Community Outreach Programme as a tool for bringing finality to this matter.
President Mnangagwa has not shied away from confronting one of the darkest periods in our history.
Under his watch and guidance, efforts are being made to tackle the Gukurahundi issue and find peace, reconciliation and healing.
Addressing this issue is critical to moving our great nation forward.
A fortnight ago, the President, while addressing chiefs at State House in Bulawayo, stated that current efforts aimed at dealing with the Gukurahundi issue had reached an advanced stage.
This programme is based on the President’s firm belief that resolving the Gukurahundi issue is about building a stronger and more united Zimbabwe for the future.
As a result, the Gukurahundi Community Outreach Programme is a testament to our collective resilience and determination to confront our history with courage and compassion.
The priority for this process is healing, dialogue and reconciliation.
The President, after extensive consultations with all stakeholders, took the decision to mandate the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs, through selected members, to spearhead this very sensitive initiative.
The decision was not made without some reflection.
Chiefs are the custodians of our culture, traditional practices and values and are best placed to handle this matter through their intimate and close relationship with people who were caught up in this unfortunate conflict.
This is not a new initiative, as the process to resolve the Gukurahundi issue started in March 2019.
Therefore, the Gukurahundi Community Outreach Programme is meant to resolve this issue through internal and home-grown processes.
To attain the objectives of the programme, 72 chiefs from Matabeleland North and South have been trained; 31 are from Matabeleland South and 41 from Matabeleland North.
There is also a steering committee of 12 and, all in all, there are 14 districts involved.
As highlighted by the President in his remarks while interfacing with chiefs from Matabeleland North and South provinces in Bulawayo recently, there are indeed challenges that are being faced in terms of the efforts to address issues surrounding Gukurahundi, chief among them being disinformation, as well as political posturing.
These problems, he said, have had the effect of casting a shadow over the Government’s efforts to address the matter to finality.
However, in his speech, the President further indicated that the challenges were surmountable.
The Gukurahundi Community Outreach Programme is being taken with the utmost seriousness as shown by the fact that a budget for the programme has already been confirmed and is in place.
This further shows the Government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the process.
The ZANU PF-led Government, indeed, has an unwavering dedication towards resolving the Gukurahundi issue.
This stems from the fact that there is an understanding of the depth of the pain, as well as the need for closure, as highlighted by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa.
The hope is that the process will not extend beyond one year, as it is important that this matter is dealt with and finalised.
For our country to move forward and progress, we definitely need to confront our history with courage and correct some mistakes of old.
We are, after all, one Zimbabwe and what holds us together is more than what could ever separate us.
Together as a nation, we will indeed be able to move forward and reach greater heights.
The ZANU PF Government, under President E.D. Mnangagwa, should be commended for these great efforts that they are making towards healing our nation and bringing it closer together.
*Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is an academic and the Secretary-General of ZANU PF. He writes in his own capacity.
