President Emmerson Mnangagwa met chiefs from Matabeleland and Midlands Provinces at the State House yesterday where they discussed several issues including traditional leaders taking a leading role in bringing closure to the Gukurahundi chapter.
Briefing journalists after the closed meeting, Mnangagwa said that he attended the Indaba at the invitation of traditional leaders. He added that chiefs argued that it was important for them to play a role as it was their subjects who were affected by Gukurahundi. The president said:
The two provinces have put forward similar methods of dealing with the issue of Gukurahundi.
The major point that has come out is the fact that Gukurahundi affected communities in which they preside as traditional leaders. They are directly affected by the incident of Gukurahundi.
Therefore, they have made an argument that in its resolution, we should as Government create a platform where the chiefs should participate substantively because it is the communities which they preside over which were affected.
He also said that other stakeholders can join the platform so as to discuss the issue and establish resolutions or a way forward agreed.
The Gukurahundi issue has been pending for many years. Top government officials in the administrations of both former president Mugabe and Mnangagwa are implicated in the massacres which left scores of people dead in Matebeleland and Midlands.
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