Minister of Home Affairs and ZANU PF Secretary for Administration, Dr Obert Mpofu has sought to absolve President Emmerson Mnangagwa from the Gukurahundi atrocities saying the issue was addressed by the late Joshua Nkomo and former president Robert Mugabe.
Mpofu who was speaking on behalf of the ruling party at the Peace Pledge signing ceremony in Harare on Tuesday said his constituency experienced serious massacres but they have agreed to move forward.
“As ZANU PF we today commit ourselves to make sure that the message of peace cascades through to all our party structures.
“I represent a constituency which was even marked by the deep activity of what my colleagues have referred to (Gukurahundi) but we have said and agreed that we move forward.
“These issues have been addressed by our icons, the late Dr Joshua Nkomo and and former president Cde R.G Mugabe, who else can deal with those issues other than those two,” said Mpofu.
President Mnangagwa made similar remarks earlier this year during an interview with the private media where he claimed that Nkomo and Mugabe agreed that the atrocities were a moment of madness while absolving everyone involved from further individual reprimand.
“Though the incidents, the commission or omission of that period by the government of the day, of that period, both are to the former vice-president, Joshua Nkomo, and the former president, Mugabe, they have pronounced themselves on behalf of the administration of the day, that it was a moment of madness. And as a result of that position we all came together, all sides came together, and agreed on the Unity Accord, and put this thing behind us,” said Mnangagwa.
The Gukurahundi has remained to contentious issue in Zimbabwe amid calls by the people of Matebeleland that those involved apologize and compensate victims of the atrocities.
