The Gukurahundi massacres in Zimbabwe, which happened between 1982 and 1987, left a deep wound in the country’s history. Thousands of people lost their lives, and many families were torn apart. Even today, the scars of this dark chapter still haunt the nation. The people who carried out these killings, including the main person responsible, former President Robert Mugabe, are no longer alive. But the question of justice still remains. Can the people behind these crimes still be held responsible? A well-known human rights lawyer, Dr. Siphosami Malunga, believes they can.
Dr. Malunga has written a 49-page article, which looks at how the people who took part in Gukurahundi can still face justice under international law. This article was published in a journal called the Comparative and International Law Journal of Southern Africa. In his work, Dr. Malunga explains the different ways the law can be used to bring justice to the victims of Gukurahundi. His article shines a light on how these criminals could be held responsible for what they did, even though many years have passed.
Gukurahundi is now seen as an international crime. Dr. Malunga says this is important because it opens the door to pursuing those responsible through International Criminal Law. He also points out that amnesties given under national law cannot protect these individuals from prosecution under international law. In other words, just because the government once forgave these criminals, it doesn’t mean they can escape justice forever. This is a key point in the fight for accountability.
In his article, Dr. Malunga looks at many legal options for holding these criminals responsible. He goes into great detail, showing how different legal ideas like system criminality, co-perpetration, aiding and abetting, and command responsibility can be applied to those who carried out the Gukurahundi massacres. By using these legal ideas, he builds a strong case for why these people should be held individually responsible for their actions.
One of the people often linked to Gukurahundi is President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa, who was in the government at the time of the killings, has tried to distance himself from the massacres. He has even taken some steps to address this dark time in Zimbabwe’s history, but many people are not satisfied with his efforts. Dr. Malunga’s research points out that even the highest-ranking officials, like Mnangagwa, should be held responsible if they had a role in the Gukurahundi atrocities.
The search for justice in Zimbabwe continues. Dr. Malunga’s work offers hope to those who still want to see justice done. His research is not just academic; it provides real, legal pathways to hold the Gukurahundi perpetrators accountable for their crimes. The victims of these terrible acts deserve justice, and the international law offers a way to get it.
The path to bringing Gukurahundi perpetrators to justice is not easy. Many years have passed, and some of the key people involved have died. But Dr. Malunga’s work shows that it’s still possible to hold those responsible for these grave crimes. His research serves as a guide for those who seek justice, and as a reminder that crimes of this nature should not go unpunished.
Zimbabwe, like many other nations that have experienced dark periods in their history, must face the past in order to move forward. Dr. Malunga’s article provides a way for the country to confront this painful chapter and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. While justice may take time, the pursuit of truth and accountability is crucial for healing and building a better future for the people of Zimbabwe. The Gukurahundi victims, and their families, deserve nothing less.