President Mnangagwa arrives in Bulawayo ahead of Gukurahundi Community Hearings launch

Bongani Ndlovu Online Writer 

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa touched down at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport on Sunday morning ahead of the launch of the Gukurahundi Community Hearings at State House in Bulawayo.

The President, touched down at 9.05am and was welcomed by Bulawayo Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube, Attorney General Mrs Virginia Mabiza, Chiefs Council President Mtshana Khumalo and his Deputy Chief Charumbira, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere, Minister of Home Affairs Kazembe Kazembe, Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe, Senior Government officials and Service Chiefs.

The public hearings, which will be led by chiefs in their communities, aim to address the legacy of Gukurahundi, a period of violence and conflict that affected some parts of Matabeleland and Midlands provinces in the 1980s.

President Mnangagwa has shown his commitment to facilitating processes that will bring closure to post-independence conflicts, as part of his vision of nation-building and fostering national unity.

Addressing journalists today at a hotel in Bulawayo on Saturday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said the public hearings will allow people to express themselves over what happened during the post-independence conflict.

“President Mnangagwa will tomorrow (Sunday) launch the Gukurahundi community hearings at State House in Bulawayo. Senior Government officials such as Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo and Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, will be part of the proceedings,” he said.

Also present at the briefing were the Attorney General Mrs Virginia Mabiza and the Head of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) Mr Tabani Mpofu.

A total of 72 chiefs from Matabeleland North and South provinces will lead the public hearings.

The chiefs have crafted and adopted the Gukurahundi manual, which will guide the holding of victim-friendly public hearings, to ensure national healing as the country confronts its unfortunate past.

The manual, which is a product of inclusive engagements between chiefs and various stakeholders, is a culmination of traditional leaders’ meetings with President Mnangagwa.

Mr Mangwana said the media is invited to cover the event and should get in touch with the Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services office in Bulawayo.

The chiefs and the supporting staff have also undergone training on how to conduct the hearings and the Government has since provided the required resources such as laptops, recorders and printers.

Government has urged the media to help resolve and not incite conflict when reporting on the Gukurahundi hearings. The media fraternity was also urged to report responsibly on the post-independence conflict to help resolve the issue.