MDC-T to compensate victims

As part of its election manifesto, the MDC-T pledged to intensify efforts of national healing, which it claims were stalled by a lack of political will from Zanu (PF). The Organ on National Healing was established in 2009 with a mandate to work towards national healing, cohesion and unity. This followed the violence that rocked the 2008 election in which the MDC-T claims it lost more than 200 of its supporters. However, analysts have accused the organ of having little to show for its efforts.

MDC-T spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora, reaffirmed his party’s commitment to the creation of a peace and reconciliation commission. He said the Organ on National Healing failed because “it operated in a bad environment and therefore it was not effective as we would have wanted it to be”. “The new constitution provides for the creation of a national healing and reconciliation commission which must deal with post conflict justice. However, we will need a law to operationalise the commission as well as to deal with issues of funding that commission,” said Mwonzora.

In its election manifesto, the MDC-T said it would launch a victim identification and reburial programme as well as constructing a national monument in memory of those who lost their lives.

“Violence did not end in 1980. The people who were affected must be compensated for their loss. We are going to establish a fund for these people,” he said.