High Court Declines Attempt to Stop Gukurahundi Reconciliation Hearings

Court Opposes Opposition Attempt To Stop Gukurahundi Hearings

ZAPU leader Sibangilizwe Nkomo’s legal challenge, filed without legal representation, contested the 2019 resolution authorizing chiefs to conduct hearings addressing the 1980s civil conflict. Nkomo raised concerns about impartiality, though the court found these arguments insufficient to warrant intervention.

ALSO READ: ‘Landlords Have Lost the Plot!’ – Outrage as Rentals Hit Absurd Highs Across Zimbabwe

“We submitted an urgent application regarding the Gukurahundi hearings process. While we respect the court’s decision, we maintain our position,” Nkomo stated following the ruling.

Traditional Leaders Press Forward with Reconciliation Efforts

Chief Mtshane Khumalo, heading the initiative as National Chiefs Council president, confirmed preparations are complete despite the temporary legal hurdle.

“Our teams are fully operational with all necessary resources, including vehicles and documentation equipment,” Khumalo reported.

The respected traditional leader emphasized the constitutional right to legal recourse while affirming the hearings’ continuation: “Challenges may arise, but our commitment to national healing remains steadfast.”

This judicial decision reinforces President Mnangagwa’s vision for resolving historical conflicts through indigenous mechanisms. The government-initiated process, launched in 2019 and formally implemented last year, empowers traditional structures to facilitate truth-telling and reconciliation.

Recent months saw Matabeleland chiefs conducting extensive preparatory meetings with local leaders, laying the groundwork for these sensitive discussions about events that affected the Matabeleland and Midlands regions decades ago.

ALSO READ: Man Murdered After Stopping To Help A Stranded Couple

Path Forward for National Healing

With legal obstacles removed, the nation anticipates meaningful progress in addressing this complex historical chapter. The traditional-led approach aims to create safe spaces for testimony while fostering unity, contrasting with political attempts to leverage past grievances.

As resources reach all participating chiefs and rapporteurs, the program enters its active phase, representing the Second Republic’s concrete steps toward comprehensive national reconciliation and closure.