Traditional leaders have reached 170 victims during the ongoing Gukurahundi hearings across Matabeleland North and South provinces. Chiefs are directly engaging with affected communities and documenting their experiences from the historic civil strife. The community-based hearings are moving forward despite opposition efforts to sabotage the process. Government officials released figures showing significant progress in both provinces. Chief Mtshane Khumalo leads the traditional leaders in the process and confirmed the numbers are accurate.
Matabeleland North has completed 40 interviews with Chief Magama of Tsholotsho leading the way with 13 interviews. Chief Nkalakatha of Nkayi has facilitated 10 interviews while other chiefs have conducted smaller numbers. Matabeleland South shows higher engagement with 127 interviews completed. Chief Masendu of Bulilima stands out with 83 interviews while Chief Hobodo of Mangwe District conducted 22 interviews. The high participation counters opposition calls for victims to boycott the hearings.
The High Court in Bulawayo dismissed a case brought by Zapu party and its affiliates who tried to halt the hearings. Senior High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi ruled the opposition application was not urgent. President Mnangagwa entrusted traditional leaders with leading the process as part of national healing efforts. The initiative seeks to address post-independence disturbances that rocked Matabeleland and parts of Midlands Province in the 1980s. The government launched the program last July to resolve the issue through an internal home-grown process.
Matabeleland North has completed 40 interviews with Chief Magama of Tsholotsho leading the way with 13 interviews. Chief Nkalakatha of Nkayi has facilitated 10 interviews while other chiefs have conducted smaller numbers. Matabeleland South shows higher engagement with 127 interviews completed. Chief Masendu of Bulilima stands out with 83 interviews while Chief Hobodo of Mangwe District conducted 22 interviews. The high participation counters opposition calls for victims to boycott the hearings.
The High Court in Bulawayo dismissed a case brought by Zapu party and its affiliates who tried to halt the hearings. Senior High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi ruled the opposition application was not urgent. President Mnangagwa entrusted traditional leaders with leading the process as part of national healing efforts. The initiative seeks to address post-independence disturbances that rocked Matabeleland and parts of Midlands Province in the 1980s. The government launched the program last July to resolve the issue through an internal home-grown process.
