The Haunting Memories of Gukurahundi Massacre in Zimbabwe
In the village of Salankomo in Tsholotsho district, an astounding number of mass graves surround Thabani Dhlamini’s home in south-western Zimbabwe. At just 10 years old, Dhlamini witnessed a massacre that still haunts him to this day.
The graves tell a chilling story of ethnic killings between 1983 and 1987, when Zimbabwe’s military, under the command of then-leader Robert Mugabe, unleashed terror on the people of Matabeleland. Teachers were killed and dumped near an ablution block at a primary school, while 22 relatives and neighbors were buried near Dhlamini’s house.
The scars of the Gukurahundi massacre run deep in the hearts of survivors like Dhlamini and 77-year-old Julia Mlilo, who vividly remembers the day her family members were brutally assaulted and burnt beyond recognition. The pain and trauma of that day still linger, with Mlilo trembling at the sight of a soldier.
Decades later, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has launched the Gukurahundi Community Engagement Programme in an attempt to address the atrocities of the past. However, many remain skeptical about the government’s intentions and the possibility of true reconciliation.
As survivors prepare to share their stories in village-level hearings, the quest for justice and closure continues. The road to healing is long and arduous, but for Dhlamini and others, speaking out is a step towards freeing themselves from the horrors they witnessed.
The shadows of Gukurahundi still loom large over Zimbabwe, with unanswered questions and unhealed wounds serving as a stark reminder of the need for truth, justice, and reconciliation. As the nation grapples with its dark past, the hope for a brighter future remains uncertain.
