Mass graves from the Gukurahundi era located in Matebeleland

From Themba Nkosi in Kezi
19 October 2005

Fifteen years after an estimated 25 000 Ndebele villagers were massacred by Robert Mugabe’s notorious army unit, the Fifth Brigade, local human rights officials have embarked on a programme to identify hundreds of mass graves containing the remains of the victims.

Human rights officials were requested to prepare a case against the government by the survivors and family members of those who perished during the Gukurahundi atrocities.

‘We are already preparing for a post Mugabe era. That’s why villagers are working with us to locate the mass graves with the remains of those who died during the massacres’ said one of the local human rights officials.

The officials said they have so far located 76 mass graves in Kezi and Tsholotsho districts alone. They are also trying to establish the fate of hundreds of other villagers and young people who disappeared after they were forced marched from their homes by the notorious fifth brigade.

Some of those who disappeared were declared dead by the local courts a few years ago. Others are said to have died from torture in detention and in secret camps, which were run by the brigade troops in the bush. Kezi villagers said the majority of people who went missing were actually executed by the soldiers who set up a camp in Bhalagwe village about 10 km from Maphisa Business Centre in Matobo constituency.

According to Sibusiso Ncube, most of the victims died a painful death and should be given a decent burial once Mugabe leaves office. Local cultural leaders are also planning a big cleansing ceremony in Matabeleland once Mugabe leaves power.

Jabulani Sibanda, the leader of the war veterans association, said that he too would like to see the perpetrators of the massacres tried in international courts.

‘We want the UN to be involved in these trials of ZANU-PF politicians and five brigade commanders’ said Sibanda, who was recently expelled from the ruling party. He accused the United Nations of doing nothing to help the survivors of the massacres.