Gukurahundi refers to the massacres by Zimbabwe’s military Fifth Brigade in the predominantly Ndebele regions of the country in the early 80s. The majority of victims were supporters of the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo.
Speaking to The Zimbabwean on the side-lines of a local press club meeting over the weekend, Dabengwa said the next government should be mandated to conduct a healing exercise of affected families but such a programme would be meaningless if Mugabe did not apologise first. “Traditionally in Matebeleland if someone kills another, before there is any talk of compensation, the aggressor must first apologise to the family. That is the culture and Mugabe should come open and apologise for the massacres,” he said.
Although the inclusive government set up a tripartite National Healing and Reconciliation Organ, it has failed to make meaningful appeasements to the families affected by Gukurahundi. Political commentators said all efforts by the organ did not make any difference because it did not have “legal teeth”.