Ntabazinduna Chief Felix Ndiweni says the atrocities committed during the Gukurahundi genocide should be addressed in order for the country to heal and move on.
Speaking at the launch of a documentary titled, “Gukurahundi Genocide: 36 years later” produced by journalist Zenzele Ndebele, on Saturday, Chief Ndiweni said Zimbabwe as a nation, cannot move forward unless the genocide atrocities were dealt with seriously.
“Zimbabwe will not progress until these atrocities are addressed,” said Chief Ndiweni.
“They can only be acknowledged if time is taken to listen to the plight of the victims”.
He encouraged surviving victims of the genocide to share their story with the public because there is more that needs to be revealed.
“One death is one death too much,speak out, do not hold back, make your wishes known,” the chief said.
Chief Ndiweni hailed the documentary as an eye opener.
The 1980s atrocities in parts of Matabeleland and Midlands claimed the lives of over 20 000 civilians.
Chief Ndiweni said genocide is the deepest pain ever to be traced in men and it ought to be treated differently. It is not static, but progressive.
ZAPU leader Dumiso Dabengwa said victims of the genocide depend on the living to seek justice for them.
“All the people, over twenty thousand who lost their lives look up to us to seek justice on their behalf. All generations to come deserve to know the truth about what really happened,” said Dabengwa.
National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) chairperson, Retired Justice Selo Masole Nare commended Ndebele for producing the documentary which provided various narratives on the genocide.
“The Commission came to attend this launch as a way of seeking to understand the past as told from different perspectives,” said Rtd Justice Nare.
“This is in line with Section 252(c) of the Constitution which mandates the NPRC to facilitate truth telling, healing, making of amends and provision of justice”.
Residents who attended the launch were delighted that the story on the genocide was finally being told and they were hopeful more stories will come out.
