THE Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has urged the United Nations (UN) to assist the grouping in its quest for redress of the 1980s mass killings in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.
MRP is also pushing for UN support for its call for self-determination despite government insisting that Zimbabwe is a unitary State.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has previously warned opposition activists, in particular MRP, pushing for the creation of a breakaway State.
In a petition delivered at the UN offices in Pretoria, South Africa, last Friday, MRP leader Mqondisi Moyo requested international acknowledgement and intervention regarding their concerns.
“We urge the UN to champion our cause on the international stage, mobilising regional and global support for our right to self-determination, justice and reparations,” the petition read in part.
“We are prepared to present and implement a comprehensive plan for self-determination grounded in international co-operation and respect for human rights.
“The plan will outline a peaceful and negotiated transition to independence, ensuring the protection of our cultural, linguistic and historical identity.”
The petition was received by UN representatives in Pretoria.
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MRP also raised concern over the secrecy surrounding the proposed Gukurahundi hearings.
“We respectfully request the UN to facilitate justice for Gukurahundi victims through independent investigations and prosecutions,” MRP said in the petition.
“We hereby affirm our readiness to co-operate fully and transparently with the UN and all relevant international bodies, offering out unwavering support and pertinent information to facilitate an equitable resolution.”
The proposed Gukurahundi hearings were supposed to start on June 26.
Zapu leader Sibangilizwe Nkomo recently filed a High Court application to stop the Gukurahundi hearings which he flagged as a flawed process.
The High Court, however, threw out his application.
Mnangagwa pledged to address the Gukurahundi issue to find closure to the country’s dark past that left over 20 000 civilians dead in Matabeleland and Midlands regions.
Government has assigned chiefs to spearhead the public hearings into the mass killings despite strong opposition.
