Matabeleland parties hail Pillay's Gukurahundi calls

Political parties in Matabeleland have hailed United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillays call for the arrest of Gukurahundi perpetrators, saying it was long overdue.

Pillay, who left on Friday after a five-day working visit to assess Zimbabwes human rights situation, said past human rights abuses should be investigated and perpetrators brought to book.

MDC-T deputy spokesperson Thabitha Khumalo said Gukurahundi survivors were still affected by the massacres, adding that the perpetrators be brought to book.

"It is now 30 years down the line and the survivors of Gukurahundi dont have birth certificates and so cannot open bank accounts or access education," Khumalo said.

"The perpetrators should be brought to book. Over and above, there must be recourse," added the MP.

Zapu secretary for information Mark Mbaiwa said: "This is exactly what we want to see happening."

"The arrests should have happened yesterday," added Mbaiwa.

Patriotic Union of Matabeleland president Bancinyane Ndiweni said the arrests were long overdue. Gukurahundi must never be swept under the carpet.

"Its a closed chapter to those who did it," he said.

"An axe may forget that it cut a tree, but the tree will never forget. We will never forget the genocide," he added.

MDC national spokesperson Nhlanhla Dube, however, said what should be done about the past injustices must not be prescriptive, but should come from Zimbabwe as a whole.

"We still remain firm on our call for a process that will culminate in Zimbabwe finding lasting peace," he said.

"We dont look at it from a prescriptive level, but are saying society must find a template. Definitely we cannot ask the perpetrators to give justice, but still we want a solution that is not retributive."

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