THE Veteran Activists Association Zimbabwe (VAAZ) has commemorated victims of what it describes as decades of State-sponsored terrorism and political persecution.
The VAAZ renewed calls for accountability over historical atrocities including the Gukurahundi massacres and unresolved abduction cases.
VAAZ national spokesperson Blessing Mandava said the country carries “too many dark secrets” linked to political violence spanning from the 1980s to the present day.
The organisation, comprised of veterans linked to the formation of the opposition MDC, accused the government of abandoning the liberation struggle’s promises of equality, justice and national unity.
VAAZ paid tribute to victims of the Gukurahundi massacres in Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands during the 1980s, describing the campaign as a genocide against civilians perceived to support Zapu.
“Our hearts are heavy as we remember how thousands of patriotic citizens were butchered in cold blood by the regime for crimes of conscience,” Mandava said.
The association also honoured political activists, opposition figures and liberation struggle veterans who died under controversial circumstances, alleging that many were targeted for opposing the ruling establishment.
“Some have been poisoned, some have died in their sleep, some have been burnt in their homes, some have died in engineered accidents, some have died from induced illnesses,” the statement read.
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VAAZ linked political violence to Zimbabwe’s post-2000 political and land reform era, arguing that opposition activists were abducted, imprisoned and prosecuted on politically motivated charges.
The association specifically mentioned the late Rebecca Mafukeni and Learnmore “Judah” Jongwe, who died in prison, as well as former detainees Tungamirai Madzokere and Last Maengahama, who spent years incarcerated.
“We continue to demand accountability from the regime and seek closure on the Gukurahundi genocide and the abduction cases,” Mandava said.
The organisation further called for implementation of recommendations made by human rights commissions and urged authorities to “decriminalise opposition politics”.
However, the government has previously denied allegations of systematic political persecution.
Just last week, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi sparked outrage after he denied in Parliament that Gukurahundi was a genocide, describing the events instead as a “conflict” and insisting there was “never a deliberate government policy” to eliminate a particular ethnic group.
Ziyambi made the remarks after Senator Sengezo Tshabangu urged Parliament to legislate for continued national healing beyond the lifespan of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission.
VAAZ said Zimbabwe has betrayed the democratic and inclusive ideals championed by late nationalist leader and Vice-President Joshua Nkomo, as the country celebrates the 27th anniversary of his death this month.
Nkomo, one of Zimbabwe’s founding nationalists and leader of PF Zapu, died on July 1, 1999 while serving as Vice-President after signing the 1987 Unity Accord with Zanu leader Robert Mugabe.
