Gukurahundi finally classified as genocide by leading experts

The Gukurahundi massacres that saw tens of thousands of innocent Zimbabweans
killed by soldiers loyal to the Mugabe regime in the mid eighties, were on
Thursday classified as genocide by the internationally recognized group
Genocide Watch. Based in Washington DC, the group's chairperson, Professor
Gregory Stanton, said the Mugabe regime has been trying to sweep this
atrocity under the rug for 30 years now but this classification now means
the perpetrators can be prosecuted no matter how much time has passed.

Speaking to SW Radio Africa Professor Stanton said: "It's been clear to us
from the beginning that this was genocide. The reason why it is important to
label it as genocide is because genocide is the crime of crimes. It is the
worst of all crimes against humanity"

More importantly Professor Stanton explained that there is no statute of
limitations for genocide or for crimes against humanity. This means the
people who committed these crimes may be called into court at any time.

He added: "They've been trying to act as though this is something that
should be forgotten. But it shouldn't be forgotten because in fact denial is
the final stage of genocide. So the question is how do you bring people who
have committed genocide to justice."

The Professor, who was in Harare meeting victims of the atrocities back in
2001, said that a crime as serious as genocide should be investigated by the
High Commissioner for human rights at the United Nations, by the African
institutions on human rights and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Since Zimbabwe is not party to the treaty of the ICC, the court could not
directly indict Robert Mugabe and others that were involved in the killings.
"But the United Nations Security Council can in fact refer the situation to
the ICC, just as they referred the situation in Darfur. And it is the way in
which President Bashir of Sudan has now been indicted for genocide,"
explained Professor Stanton.