MAGGEMM today responded to a new report by Impunity Watch calling for the prosecution of Robert Mugabe and others for Gukurahundi and other human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.  The report titled “Seeking Justice for Zimbabwe” states that;

1. The events surrounding Gukurahundi give reasonable grounds to believe that Mugabe and others committed war crimes as defined under Article 8 of the Rome Statute.

2.  Justice for Zimbabwe should be approached with an outward look from the crimes dating from the Ndebele killings in the 1980s.

3.  The Fifth Brigade was directly accountable to Mugabe, consequently placing the crimes committed by the military unit squarely on his shoulders.

4. There is sufficient evidence to meet the legal requirements for a determination that crimes against humanity took place.

5.  A truth commission should be mandated with investigating human rights violations by the Mugabe regime.

Commenting on the report, MAGGEMM director of programmes, Thembani Dube, said: “On the whole, we welcome most of what this report says, particularly the attention and emphasis it places on Gukurahundi. For far too long now, we’ve been told that Gukurahundi happened a long time ago and cannot therefore be investigated but this report clearly shatters that myth.

What we now need is the willingness of all Zimbabweans and the international community to see to it that justice is served for victims of Gukurahundi.”

The report also proposes an amnesty or immunity for Robert Mugabe due to his advanced age, if he agrees to step aside and leave Zimbabwe for good.  Thembani Dube disagreed, however, saying; “MAGGEMM’s position on amnesties for perpetrators of Gukurahundi is very clear and remains unchanged.  Only the victims and their families should say what they want to see happen to perpetrators and besides, judging by this week’s events when Mugabe signed up for talks with the MDC, it is unlikely that he will be leaving Zimbabwe anytime soon.”

Notes to Editors;

1. Mthwakazi Action Group on Genocide in Matabeleland and Midlands (MAGGEMM) is a not-for-profit group for victims of the Gukurahundi genocide in Zimbabwe between 1982 and 1988.

2. MAGGEMM is not a political party/organisation and its actions must not be viewed as such.

3. Gukurahundi is a Shona word which means “the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains” and was the codename for the government military operation in Matabeleland and Midlands between 1982 and 1988.

4. At least 20,000 people were massacred during the Gukurahundi campaign. For more information, please contact Mpho Ncube (ncube@maggemm.co.uk), telephone 07776326521 or visit www.maggemm.co.uk