NKULUMANE lawmaker, Desire Moyo, says the Gukurahundi community outreach programme should be conducted in a way that allows the victims freedom to forgive without undue pressure.
On Sunday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially launched the outreach programme in Bulawayo to address the 1980s killings.
The programme which is led by traditional leaders is meant to allow victims and survivors to express their grievances in pursuit of reconciliation.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Moyo said the outreach programme has the potential to bring about national healing and reconciliation if conducted properly.
“I rise on a point of national interest, noting that over the weekend, the government launched an outreach programme on Gukurahundi hearings. The hearings will be led by the respective chiefs in Matabeleland,” he said.
“I note that this process has the potential to bring about national healing and reconciliation if it is conducted in a good manner, devoid of political disturbances and submissive commentary. It has the potential to even heal the dead.”
Moyo called on Parliament to complement the Gukurahundi outreach process by developing legislation that will criminalise justification for the killings.
“In this regard, I call upon this House to establish legislation,” he said.
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In his reaction, Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda, said Moyo had ample time to state his case during the outreach programme.
“If you listened very carefully to the launch of the programme, it is an outreach programme where all those who feel they have something to say about the outreach programme are given an opportunity to do so and what you are proposing is crisscrossing the outreach programme unnecessarily,” Mudenda said.
“Let us wait for the results of the outreach programme and obviously in terms of our processes, the report may be tabled before the House if it pleases His Excellency, the President.”
Moyo, however, retorted: “I hope it will be done so that we have the freedom to forgive rather than being commanded to healing.”
