Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has launched a reconciliation process addressing the 1980s massacres by government troops that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. Survivors will be interviewed in hearings to pave the way for possible compensation and resolve longstanding grievances.
“This is a pivotal moment in our history,” Mnangagwa stated in Bulawayo, emphasizing the nation’s ability to resolve disputes. He described the initiative as a symbol of collective will to heal and bridge divides, marking it as a “pilgrimage towards healing.”
The Gukurahundi massacres occurred post-independence as Robert Mugabe consolidated power, deploying a North Korean-trained unit to quash a revolt in Matabeleland. The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and Amnesty International estimate 20,000 people were killed.
Critics claim the operation targeted dissidents loyal to Joshua Nkomo, a rival revolutionary leader, with most victims being Ndebele. Mugabe never acknowledged responsibility, dismissing Amnesty’s evidence as lies. Mnangagwa, taking power in 2017, set up a panel of chiefs to investigate.
Activists argue the process is flawed due to the lack of an official apology. Buster Magwizi, a spokesman for Nkomo loyalists, and Mbuso Fuzwayo, of Ibhetshu LikaZulu, criticized Mnangagwa for not seizing the opportunity to apologize, despite his role as security minister during the massacres.
