ZANU PF ‘mischief’ behind EU’s false statements on Gukurahundi

By Alex Bell
08 February 2012

ZANU PF ‘mischief’ is believed to be behind recent statements attributed to the European Union (EU) commissioner in the country, who was quoted as dismissing the Gukurahundi massacres as a ‘tired song’.

The Bulawayo based Sunday News reported over the weekend that EU Ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia had urged the people of Matabeleland “not to continue living in the Gukurahundi past as it has the effect of blurring their development vision.” The newspaper quoted Dell’Ariccia as saying that the issue of “Gukurahundi has become so much of a tired song in Matabeleland.”

“We should focus more on developing the region rather than continuously blaming underdevelopment and marginalisation on the issue. People should look ahead and let not history hinder the process and prospect of developing the region,” the newspaper quoted the Ambassador as saying.

The newspaper also said the Gukurahundi was being used as a “topic for political grandstanding.”

But the EU Ambassador has angrily denied making such comments, saying the newspaper misquoted him. In an emailed reply to a Matabeleland activist who actively campaigns for justice for the Gukurahundi, the Ambassador said that “NONE of the quotes reported in the article are true.”

“I presume that the source that disseminated the false declarations obeys to a strategy of defamation of the European Union and tries to create animosity between us and the people of Matabeleland,” the Ambassador said in the email.

Zimbabwe’s co-minister of National Healing, Moses Mzila Ndlovu meanwhile told SW Radio Africa this week that he is “totally convinced that he (Dell’Ariccia) did not make those comments.”

The minister spoke to the EU Ambassador on Tuesday to get to the bottom of the story, and he explained that Dell’Ariccia was clearly “outraged that these comments were attributed to him.”

“He believes it is mischief on the part of journalists at this paper, which we know is a pro ZANU PF mouthpiece,” Mzila Ndlovu said.

He added: “I am relieved that he has denied this, because if it was true it would be very contrary to what the EU stands for.”

The minister has vowed that the perpetrators of the massacres in the 1980s will be prosecuted, but he told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday that ZANU PF is standing in the way of justice.

“The ZANU PF side of government wants to regard the issue as water under the bridge, which we find insensitive, vulgar, inhuman and cruel,” Mzila Ndlovu said.

He continued: “We want the people of Matabeleland, the victims, the survivors, everyone affected, to know that humanity is standing behind their fight for justice.”