Zanu (PF) MPs moved in Parliament this week to close the Gukurahundi debate that has divided the house and heightened tensions in the hung Parliament.
The debate came as international experts on genocide meeting in Argentina resolved that the Gukurahundi massacres could be classified as genocide and that the perpetrators must be brought to book.
Genocide Watch chairperson, Professor Gregory Stanton, said the Mugabe regime has been trying to sweep this atrocity under the carpet but the latest classification now means the perpetrators can be prosecuted no matter how much time has passed.
"Looking at the motion under discussion, it is clear that the motion was just aimed at whipping political emotions and sending people to outrage, which the nation does not look forward to, especially considering that as Members of Parliament, we have to lead by example," said Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, a Zanu (PF) MP.
He rejected a motion to allow the National Organ of National Healing to probe the massacres, saying the Gukurahundi "incident" was not part of the mandate of the organ.
"The mandate of the organ was looking at the 2008 elections and its aftermath and how people can reconcile and get healed," Bhasikiti said.
MDC-T MP Editor Matamisa said Zimbabwe needed to deal with its past in order to confront the future. She said national healing should address every era of Zanu (PF)’s madness..
"When we went for COPAC, people expected national healing. They thought that God had intervened. National healing should have touched everyone,” she said.
Post published in: News