The pressure group said each election since the early 1980s
had brought sad memories of the massacre to the survivors and their families.
An estimated 20 000 civilians in Matabeleland and Midlands
provinces were killed by State security agents between 1982 and 1987 on
suspicion of harbouring PF-Zapu insurgents.
“The Gukurahundi victims have not been voting for Zanu PF
because they love it, they were voting for the ruling party because of fear of
a repeat of atrocities,” Ibhetshu LikaZulu co-ordinator Mbuso Fuzwayo told
Southern Eye yesterday, adding that voting for Zanu PF had become a survival
tactic as some had been denied food aid after being perceived as opposition
supporters.
“It is like a woman who stays with a man who raped and
impregnated her. But because of poverty and fear, that woman submits herself to
that man, that is what is happening. None of the Gukurahundi victims votes for
Zanu PF voluntarily,” he said.
One of the Gukurahundi victims from Silobela, who declined
to be named, said: “It’s painful to vote for people who tortured us. We are
just voting for Zanu PF for the sake of accessing free stuff like health and
food since we can’t even access proper jobs. It’s really painful. We fear being
victimised again.”
Another Gukurahundi victim, who identified himself as
Ndlangamandla, said he had had enough of Zanu PF intimidation and would vote
for the opposition in the March 26 by-elections.
Zanu PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa yesterday declined to
comment on the issue.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has pledged to
address the issue by facilitating issuance of identification documents to the
survivors, but the victims insist on compensation and prosecution of
perpetrators. Newsday
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