President to meet chiefs on Gukurahundi hearings. President Mnangagwa is scheduled to meet with chiefs from the Matabeleland region and the Midlands Province today to finalize the process of initiating the Gukurahundi hearings. This marks a significant step by the Second Republic towards finding a lasting solution and promoting national unity for the healing of victims.

The meeting will take place at State House in Bulawayo. In October 2022, the President launched a manual on the Gukurahundi community engagement processes, which was developed by chiefs and includes a report on their consultative meetings.

The Gukurahundi manual was created to provide guidance for victim-friendly public hearings led by traditional leaders, aiming to facilitate national healing and address the unfortunate events of the 1980s conflict. The manual is the result of extensive engagements between chiefs, President Mnangagwa, and various stakeholders. These meetings began in March 2019 and have paved the way for the upcoming public hearings on Gukurahundi.

Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, the Second Republic has consistently demonstrated its commitment to facilitating processes that bring closure to post-independence conflicts and foster unity in the country. The President has repeatedly emphasized the importance of unity and collective prosperity for the nation’s advancement.

Addressing the sensitive issue of Gukurahundi is seen as vital to promoting national unity and moving the country forward in a unified direction. The Gukurahundi conflict, which occurred in the early 1980s, particularly affected the Matabeleland region and parts of the Midlands.

While the 1987 Unity Accord provided a political solution to the conflict, the social implications remained largely unaddressed. However, President Mnangagwa has made it his mission to confront the country’s past, no matter how dark, and resolve the Gukurahundi issue.

The President has previously engaged with civil society organizations under the Matabeleland Collective to address regional issues, including Gukurahundi. Subsequently, he met with traditional leaders from Matabeleland and the Midlands, leading to the decision that chiefs would play a significant role in addressing Gukurahundi.

To prepare for the public hearings, chiefs have undergone extensive training, and these hearings are expected to commence later this year.