Zim war victims accuse West of hypocrisy, demand reparations

By ALBERT MASAKA

THE War Victims and Survivors Association of Zimbabwe (WVSAZ) has accused Africa’s former colonisers of insincerity on human rights issues and dared them to pay compensation for the deaths and suffering they caused during the colonial and war of liberation eras.

WVSAZ chairperson Vongai Mutokoti said this in a statement while responding to a recent US government human freedom index report which ranked Zimbabwe among the worst performers in terms of human rights.

Mutokoti came to the defence of the country’s human rights record after the report’s contents recently appeared in the local media.

She also accused Africa’s former colonisers for practicing double standards on human rights issues.

“The magnanimity and statesmanship shown by our President and his government is in stark contrast to Western governments, who despite not only colonising, bombing and maiming innocent Zimbabweans for decades in complete disregard of human rights, are given an olive branch.

“Despite this Western countries do not even have the decency to offer reparations or apologise to its victims.”

She cited Mnangagwa’s government signing of the Global Compensation Agreement of 2020 as evidence that it was a champion defender of human rights.

Zimbabwe signed a US$3.5 billion dollar compensation agreement with former white commercial farmers for improvements the later made on farms acquired under the land reform programme.

She added that Mnangagwa has set the position of Zimbabwe to the world as being “a friend to all and an enemy to none.”

“This stance has been exemplified by the signing of the Global Compensation Agreement of 2020. The magnanimity and statesmanship shown by our President and his government is in stark contrast to Western governments, who despite not only colonising, bombing and maiming innocent Zimbabweans for decades in complete disregard of human rights are given an olive branch. Despite this Western countries do not even have the decency to offer reparations or apologise to its victims.

The WVSAZ rejected any categorisation of Zimbabwe as a human rights performer.

“Zimbabwe has recognised and continues today to respect and uphold the human rights of its people, its victims, its victims and survivors.

“The government of Zimbabwe led by His Excellency President Doctor E.D. Mnangagwa is for us a champion and defender of human rights. He had done this by supporting our organisation and driving this country towards Vision 2030”