Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South)-In the aftermath of heated parliamentary proceeding that saw various MP’s attacking the National Peace and Reconciliation Bill, People’s Democratic Party leader Tendai Biti has vowed that the bill is the right way to go for the nation.
Speaking on Monday Biti said the bill should go ahead and be passed to deal with Gukurahundi such that no one with a tainted past should rule.
“Gukurahundi can’t go away”
“Anyone who murdered our people, anyone who committed crimes against humanity will not run and cannot this country”, he said.
The National Peace and Reconciliation bill, which was tabled by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, seeks to ensure post-conflict justice, healing and reconciliation among other issues as its function.
However due to the infamous Gukurahundi some politicians have appeared uncomfortable with it and it elicited heated exchanges in parliament last week.
Joseph Chinotimba explicitly stated his distate for the bill.
“Inini hangu handirifariri bill iri” ( I myself personally don’t like this bill)
Another Zanu PF member and former police chief, Oliver Mandipaka said the timing of the bill signaled some evil intent.
“You cannot have a Truth and Reconciliation Commission ission 17 years past the conflict”.
“What are we trying to achieve here? I am at pains Mr Speaker to accept this Bill because if you look at countries that have no peace and have disturbances, it is because of these issues that we are trying to bring into existance, he said.
However Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda urged caution and said the bill was very much needed.
“We have to be very careful about what we say”.
“The executive, in its wisdom as guided by the Constitution, has brought this bill here. There is no way we can say the Constitution is wrong”, he said.
VP Mphoko also defended the bill.
“I have an obligation charged to me by the president and parliament and I want to make sure that the bill passes through. It is very important. Only the fear of the unknown can scare the people, otherwise this Bill is for the nation”
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