by MKHOKHELI NCUBE
MAPHISA – DECADES after the Gukurahundi genocide, the scars in Matabeleland South remain fresh in the collective memory of survivors.
The campaign, carried out by the Zimbabwe National Army’s Fifth Brigade between 1983 and 1987, claimed tens of thousands of lives and left hundreds of mass graves across the province.
Communities in Gwanda, Lupane, Beitbridge, Mangwe, and Insiza were among the hardest hit, with entire villages decimated and families torn apart.
For the survivors, daily life remains intertwined with grief and mistrust.
Many recount the trauma of witnessing their relatives killed, villages burned, and livelihoods destroyed.
“We are still living with the pain of losing our parents, our siblings, and our friends. Nothing has been done to bring closure,” said a survivor from Lupane.
Another elder from Gwanda lamented: “We hoped for healing and justice, but we continue to wait for recognition from the government.”
When President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the formation of a committee composed of traditional chiefs, historians, and legal experts to address the Gukurahundi atrocities, the people of Matabeleland saw it as a long-awaited step toward reconciliation.
There was hope that survivors’ voices would be heard that mass graves would be properly investigated, and that truth-telling could pave the way for healing.
Yet, years on, the committee’s work appears stalled, and tangible progress remains absent.
Analysts point to several reasons for this inertia.
Political sensitivities surrounding accountability, fears of reopening historical divisions, and lack of sufficient funding and resources have all been cited as barriers.
Some critics argue that the government’s hesitation stems from concerns over exposing the full scale of past atrocities, which could implicate prominent figures and unsettle the nation’s fragile political balance.
This prolonged delay has frustrated the people of Matabeleland South.
“It feels like the promises of reconciliation were abandoned. We are left with empty words,” said a youth leader in Beitbridge.
Community activists stress that ignoring the issue risks deepening historical grievances, perpetuating mistrust between the state and Matabeleland communities, and fostering generational trauma.
Human rights advocates warn of potential consequences if the matter remains unresolved: continued social alienation, stunted regional development, and even renewed political tension.
Some Matabeleland residents, like veteran activist Thabo Ncube, maintain a strong stance against forgetting or forgiving until justice and full recognition are realized.
“Healing cannot occur without truth, and truth cannot occur while the government pretends this chapter never happened,” Ncube said.
Despite the silence and delays, the people of Matabeleland South continue to advocate for recognition of mass graves, proper documentation of the atrocities, and reparative initiatives that honour victims and survivors.
Local historians and civil society organizations argue that failing to act risks leaving a legacy of unresolved trauma and undermines national cohesion.
As Zimbabwe moves forward, the Gukurahundi issue remains a litmus test of government accountability, historical justice, and societal reconciliation.
For the people of Matabeleland South, the hope persists that one day their grief will be formally acknowledged, their dead respectfully commemorated, and the wounds of the past finally healed.
