The issue of Gukurahundi has sometimes been misconstrued as a Shona versus Ndebele issue. Yet this was one of the darkest periods of our post independence history that affected all Zimbabweans alike. Gukurahundi is a national disaster and is not an ethnic issue. Robert Mugabe might have wanted to give the impression that the whole country, specifically the entire Shona community was fully behind him when he committed Gukurahundi in Matabeleland and Midlands but that was never the case.  As a result, national harmony and tribal trust have been damaged in the process.

The ZPDP has a clear position on Gukurahundi and we see that dark part of our post-independence history as a national disaster that was perpetrated on the people of Zimbabwe by a ruthless and brutal regime. Both Shona and Ndebele people were affected by Gukurahundi albeit to different extents. The impact of Gukurahundi was significantly geographically severe and more so in Matabeleland and Midlands.

The ZPDP will address Gukurahundi and its effects not as an Ndebele problem but as a national problem relevant to the entire country of Zimbabwe. It is important that such past wrongs against humanity are properly addressed in a way that does not further and unnecessarily threaten but enhance the unity of the country. Our government will approach that very important issue in a responsible, sensitive and constructive manner and will encourage every Zimbabwean to adopt a similar position towards that very difficult issue.

The ruthless regime of ZANU PF follows it opponents wherever they are, regardless of where and who they are. This was seen through the violence of the 2000 election campaign, which was countrywide, because such was the widespread opposition to ZANU PF.  People were killed, and still continue to be killed in political violence regardless of their tribe, ethnic region or origin. It is a challenge to us all as Zimbabweans to rid our politics of the culture of violence and killing of opponents. There is a case to be made for more persuasion than coercion in Zimbabwean politics today.  No one should kill or be killed in the name of any politician or political party

The facts are there on Gukurahundi and what has not been done.  It should be the primary responsibility of any governing party in Zimbabwe to give due consideration to those facts as a necessary step towards the redressing of that difficult phase of our post-independence history.

The ZPDP will consider the available facts on Gukurahundi and we will use these as a basis for formulating an official government policy towards the victims of Gukurahundi.