Gukurahundi rears its ugly head again as Parliament discusses Mphoko’s Peace and Reconciliation bill- Part Three

Mr. Speaker Sir, I also want to say because of this delay, it has caused us to lose further time.  The survivors and the victims of gross human rights violations that occurred in this country are angry, hurt and are waiting for solutions.  I will therefore, want to suggest respectfully that in order to make up for these four years, this unexplained delay of four shameful years of having the Commission start – we have a duty to make this up to the Zimbabwean public who wrote this Constitution.  It is my respectful view that when the Commission begins its work, the reckoning of the ten years must start from the minute that the Commission starts to work because the Constitution provides that it is ten years after the effective date.  Today is after the effective date.  It is still after the effective date and we can start reckoning the days from this day to the ten years so that we show that we care about the people that we represent.

I would like to acknowledge the improvements that have been made in the Bill – that it is encouraging indeed that the Vice President listened to the people of Zimbabwe when they cried and screamed about the first Bill.   I would like to thank him for that and hope that he continues to further improve the Bill so that we can be judged well in terms of history.

I would like to say that the experience that we had in the public hearings is very eloquent and pitiful cry for peace and reconciliation to happen in Zimbabwe.  The very way in which the public hearings were conducted shows that this Bill is of critical importance.  Zimbabweans are bleeding and dying and Zimbabwe is in need of healing.

I will mention experiences that we had Mr. Speaker Sir.  We had experiences particularly in public hearings that show that we need this Commission to start its work yesterday and to meticulously follow what the Constitution provides in terms of its duties.  It must not do superficial show of it.  There was violence at the Public Hearings of this National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Bill.  It was very ironic in that it was about peace and reconciliation but it was like war, in particular in Mashonaland Central.  I will not forget that the atmosphere was extremely hostile.  Survivors of brutal violence of May 2008 that I personally know because I happen to hail from this province; there was one particular one whom I first met when he was in hospital when he had been assaulted and his brother had been killed who was an MDC Councillor for a Ward in Mazowe Central.  He was brave enough to come to the public hearing to give his views but he was prevented….

THE VICE PRESIDENTAND THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL HEALING, PEACE AND RECONCILIATION (HON. MPHOKO):  On a point of order Hon. Speaker, some of us have damaged ears and people are making noise.  I want to hear what the Hon. Member is saying.

THE HON. SPEAKER:  Hon. Member, may I caution that you did a very good job during the public hearing and consequently, the Bill then proposed was withdrawn.  I request that you go to the meat and bones of the current Bill.

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