Bulawayo, (New Ziana)– The National Council of Chiefs has confirmed that community hearings on the post independence disturbances that occurred in some parts of the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces, commonly known as the Gukurahundi period, will officially commence on Thursday next week, marking a critical step in government efforts to consolidate national unity and reconciliation.
The Matabeleland Peacebuilding Outreach Program, a landmark initiative, aims to identify individuals directly and indirectly affected by the disturbances, capture their views and craft community-led solutions to their grievances.
Through structured dialogue, the program seeks to address the root causes of the disturbances while facilitating closure for victims through appropriate State interventions.
Since assuming office, President Mnangagwa has committed to transparently confront Zimbabwe’s troubled past, committing to resolve issues related to these historical events.
Addressing the media on the sidelines of a steering committee meeting held in the country’s second largest city on Sunday, National Council of Chiefs vice president, Chief Fortune Charumbira, confirmed that the hearings will be conducted under strict confidentiality to encourage open testimonies from those affected by the disturbances.
The Steering Committee of the Gukurahundi Community Engagement Outreach Program met with traditional chiefs from Matabeleland in Bulawayo over the weekend to finalise logistical arrangements for the rollout of the community outreach program.
“This program was endorsed by the President himself, who decided to open up on issues and to allow individuals, call them victims, as an individual or as a family, to submit grievances to their chiefs. Where cases come out legitimately and require compensation, the government is ready to compensate,” he explained.
He said the council recently concluded a two-week awareness drive from May 27 to June 5, where traditional leaders informed communities about the process. Charumbira added that unlike public hearings, the sessions will be closed to protect sensitive testimonies.
“Our approach is victim-centred. These are not public hearings due to the private nature of some narrations. Even in court systems, some proceedings are held in camera to protect victims. Each victim will have their own time slot with the chief, and only invited family members may attend,” he explained.
He said each chief will preside over a 14-member panel, including elders, religious leaders, women, youth representatives, and counsellors from their communities.
“Two rapporteurs will document submissions via audio, video, and written records using provided laptops, iPads, and cameras. Everything is according to the values and traditions of the people in that chief’s district. We want to do away with external influences. The chief is responsible for safeguarding all records,” he said.
While the hearings are expected to take three to six months, Charumbira explained that the time needed will depend on how many cases each chief handles. He also addressed Diaspora concerns, saying that victims abroad should return to testify.
“Our chiefs cannot sit in Botswana or South Africa, but people will be given time to arrange travel. Victims will not be allowed to talk to the media,” Charumbira said.
The upcoming hearings are part of a broader national initiative to confront the legacy of the post-independence disturbances in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.
New Ziana
