Gukurahundi massacres. . . long arm of law creeps closer
A Bulawayo-based organisation fighting for justice for Gukurahundi victims, the Gukurahundi Atrocities Redress Mechanism (Garcom), is lobbying the international community to have perpetrators of Matabeleland massacres brought to book.
Garcom, formed in May 2010, comprises over 20 civic organisations including Bulawayo Agenda, Matabeleland Constitutional Reform Agenda (Macra), Zapu, Puma and Grace to Heal Church Ministries.
Garcom chairperson Effie Ncube told NewsDay at the weekend there was need for Gukurahundi perpetrators to be brought to book.
“We are carrying out international advocacy where we are lobbying the international community to ensure that these atrocities are recognised and the perpetrators brought to book,” he said.
In September last year, a Washington-based group that campaigns against mass murders, Genocide Watch, urged the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights to conduct a full investigation on Gukurahundi massacres, with the intention of establishing a combined UN-Zimbabwe tribunal to bring the perpetrators to trial.
Ncube said accountability and justice were important to heal the nation.
“We are also on the ground meeting with communities that were affected during the Gukurahundi atrocities,” said Ncube.
“We are trying to make sure that they are involved in getting the story told. An example is the setting up of the Balagwe monumental site as a way of remembering the massacred.”
Garcom is working with the Zimbabwe Victims of Organised Violence Trust to build a monument at Balagwe in Kezi.
Ncube said Garcom was formed after a realisation that there were some organisations and individuals who purported to be representing Gukurahundi victims when in actual fact they were not.
Garcom chairperson Effie Ncube told NewsDay at the weekend there was need for Gukurahundi perpetrators to be brought to book.
“We are carrying out international advocacy where we are lobbying the international community to ensure that these atrocities are recognised and the perpetrators brought to book,” he said.
In September last year, a Washington-based group that campaigns against mass murders, Genocide Watch, urged the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights to conduct a full investigation on Gukurahundi massacres, with the intention of establishing a combined UN-Zimbabwe tribunal to bring the perpetrators to trial.
Ncube said accountability and justice were important to heal the nation.
“We are also on the ground meeting with communities that were affected during the Gukurahundi atrocities,” said Ncube.
“We are trying to make sure that they are involved in getting the story told. An example is the setting up of the Balagwe monumental site as a way of remembering the massacred.”
Garcom is working with the Zimbabwe Victims of Organised Violence Trust to build a monument at Balagwe in Kezi.
Ncube said Garcom was formed after a realisation that there were some organisations and individuals who purported to be representing Gukurahundi victims when in actual fact they were not.
