Zimbabwe’s recently appointed second vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, has been ruled out from the government role of national healing and reconciliation, after allegations surfaced on his alleged involvement in Gukurahundi terror.
Mphoko has been rendered “unfit for the Government Job” because of his name’s association with the infamous Gukurahundi massacres which has triggered a spell of lack of trust from countless Matabele people who have slapped him with various negative titles.
According to Dzikamai Bere, who is a Human Rights Researcher on Transitional Justice, “if a Commissioner is appointed, he or she must not have a spot on the back, or any allegation. (CLICK HERE for full audio interview)
Now that we have a Vice President who is supposed to be in charge of National Healing, but with allegations from the community he is supposed to be working with on national healing, it is not a good idea to politicise the healing process. Because of these allegations, levelled against him; he is no longer the right candidate to be appointed into national healing commission, thereby automatically not appropriate for the job,” he said.
Bere also added that the Human Rights Commissioners must also be people with a smart track record and a clean record on human rights issues. “The Commissioners must also hold confidence in people’s minds that this process will be a success away from political influence,” he said.
The National Peace and Reconciliation Commission is appealing to victims of the 80s Gukurahundi atrocities, to come in their numbers to register, and openly speak about their victimisation without fear, as this is their only opportunity to heal and move forward.