THE Gukurahundi memorial plaque that was erected at the Bhalagwe mass grave in Maphisa, Matabeleland South province, has been vandalised for the fourth time by suspected State security agents.
Ibhetshu LikaZulu, working with various stakeholders and human rights groups, had to erect the plaques for the fourth time at the same place.
The plaque has, however, been either blown up or removed by people they suspect to be State security agents who do not want discussions on the atrocities committed between 1982 and 1987 during the height of Gukurahundi — a mass genocide committed in the 1980s — to be brought up.
Thousands of people who include men, women and children were killed and buried in the Bhalagwe mass grave by 5 Brigade during that period.
Ibhetshu LikaZulu secretary-general Mbuso Fuzwayo told Southern Eye that the plaque and the crosses have been removed.
“To me, it is clear that the State does not want the Gukurahundi issue to be addressed,” he said.
“What is important to our people is that even if the programme led by chiefs start, we must know that the government’s programme is not meant to heal people’s wounds, but to push its own interests.”
Mthwakazi Republic Party president Mqondisi Moyo said it was disturbing that State agents continued to destroy the plaques.
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Nkayi Community Parliament speaker Nhlanhla Moses Ncube blamed the vandalism on State players.
“They are working in cahoots with the people responsible for the Gukurahundi genocide. Zanu PF and its agents are to blame. Why are these rascals not being arrested?”
Human rights advocate Effie Ncube said vandalising a plaque erected by victims and survivors of the Gukurahundi atrocities affected the national healing and reconciliation initiatives.
“Memorialisation plays a central role in healing memories, mourning the dead, transferring memories and educating younger people of the dark chapters we must never repeat. Memorial plaques are a history book that keeps reminding us of the outstanding exercise to heal the wounds,” he said.
“Destroying them won’t silence the history of what happened. Memorial plaques contribute to the difficult and uncomfortable, but absolutely necessary discussion about what transpired and how it affected people then and how it continues to affect them today.”
Ncube said memorial plaques were a window into the past.
“Unless and until we are prepared to have that difficult, but necessary horizontal and vertical dialogue on our collective past, the path to national healing and reconciliation is made difficult,” Ncube said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has tasked traditional leaders from Matabeleland to deal with the 1980s massacres that claimed over 20 000 lives, according to the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe.
