We can heal wounds of the past through development – Cde Mpofu
Hosia Mviringi
One of the most senior political leaders from Matabeleland, Cde Obert Mpofu has urged Zimbabweans to remain focused on developing their communities despite its painful history.
Cde Mpofu while addressing concerns and sentiments surrounding the unfortunate and regrettable Gukurahundi episode which occurred in the Southern Provinces of the country soon after independence, implored community leaders to rally their people towards development as opposed to fixation on the past.
Speaking in vernacular at the burial of Chief Mabhikwa in Lupane over the weekend, Cde Mpofu expressed his fervent belief that for a nation to progress, it should draw lessons from the past and proceed to chart a fresh path forward without repeating mistakes of the past.
“This country can only be built by its citizens. Continued fixation on our painful past does not build, but it can only serve to break our spirit and make us a broken people and nation.
We are the leaders who are consistently voted into office by the people, but if we continuously remind people of a painful past, we are not building but destroying the very foundation on which we must build upon,” he said.
Cde Mpofu continued by reminding the people of Matabeleland that the issue of Gukurahundi was discussed and agreed upon at the highest levels by the country’s two founding fathers Cde Joshua Nkomo (PF ZAPU) and Cde Robert Mugabe (ZANU).
The two great leaders were fully aware of the destructive nature of vindictiveness and unforgiveness and their agreement culminated in the formation of ZANU PF.
The agreement is what effectively buried regionalism and tribalism, two evils that no one must ever attempt to resurrect.
He said that the two great leaders were never ambiguous about the magnitude of the internal contradictions and the nature of destruction it wrought upon the nation, and that this tacit appreciation of the gravity of the incident, and open admission of their mistakes culminated in an internally brokered truce of 1987 through the historic Unity Accord of December 22.
“These painful happenings were recognised by our leaders at the time, Cde Mugabe and Dr Nkomo. These two great statesmen sat down, together with many other leaders at that time and they fixed the problem. Some people, who are not even aware of this history, have made it their preoccupation to go around dividing people while opening up old wounds, instead of helping with the healing process,” he continued.
“I speak of these things with a passion, as your son as well as a leader among you my people. I speak of the things that I know of because I am privileged to be closer to where those things happen and are discussed. My heart bleeds to see my people being incited by an excitable clique whose nature thrives in disunity and disharmony. I yearn to see my people and country develop together in unity,” concluded Dr Mpofu in a passionate plea.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has since coming into power acknowledged the need for continuous engagement with affected communities, not to open their wounds, but to do the right things in a manner that brings the nation even closer in unity.
The President has made it his mission to bring together community leaders, traditional leaders and civic society from Matabeleland and the Midlands regions, to openly discuss the issues as a way of building trust and see how the country can forge ahead together.
These consultations are ongoing and progress has so far been registered in the areas of civil registration for survives and reburial of identified remains of victims.
President Mnangagwa said chiefs will lead the process, Chief Mabhikwa was among those who were keen to see a resolution on the issue.
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