Press Statement by David Coltart

Press Statement

Issued by the Director of the Bulawayo Legal Projects Centre, David Coltart

8^th November 1994

Today’s press conference marks the handing over of a cheque of $35,000.00 to Mrs Musa Sibanda, being damages paid to her by the Ministry of Home Affairs. On 3^rd November 1985, just over nine years ago, Mr Fraser Gibson Sibanda, then over 60 years of age, was arrested by policemen at the United Church of Christ in Bulawayo. His crime was that he was wearing a “Father of Zimbabwe” badge. He has never been seen again and was presumed dead in 1991. The money paid to Mrs Sibanda recompenses her for the loss of support of her husband. The money will not deal with the loss of her husband but will at least enable her and her children to live a better life.

This is the first time that a victim of the 1982-1988 dissident war has been compensated and both the Catholic Commission and the Ministry of Home Affairs are to be congratulated for settling this High Court action in such a satisfactory manner.

The ongoing tragedy is that there are literally thousands of widows and fatherless children in Matabeleland and Midlands who have not been compensated for the loss of their husbands and fathers who were killed between 1982 and 1988 by either dissidents, soldiers, security agents or policemen. I was deeply saddening to read recently that the President, Mr Robert Mugabe, at a recent Meet the People talk, said that his Government would not compensate the victims of the dissident war. In terms of the War Victims Compensation Act (Number 22 of 1980) all people who suffered injury during the liberation struggle are entitled to claim compensation. Is there any reason why innocent Zimbabwean citizens who suffered greatly as a result of being caught in the middle of the dissident war should not be compensated in a similar fashion? I think not. Accordingly, we call upon Government either to amend the existing War Victim Compensation Act or to enact a new Act to allow these victims to claim compensation from Government.

Governments must realise by now that many people suffered greatly during this period. Loved ones and breadwinners “disappeared”, just as Fraser Gibson Sibanda did, never to be seen again. Like Fraser Gibson Sibanda the vast majority of the “disappeared persons” were innocent people caught up in a struggle they had no control over. Their “disappearance” has not only left huge financial burdens on their surviving spouses and children, but has also caused deep emotional distress and suffering. Compensating the innocent victims of this unhappy chapter of our history will not only relieve financial burdens but will also facilitate meaningful emotional healing and reconciliation.

In the meantime, that is while Government is considering this appeal, I encourage all people who suffered at the hands of either dissidents or Government forces during the period 1982-1988 to come forward to the Bulawayo Legal Projects Centre or any of its Advice Centres. We have Advice Centres established in Binga, Hwange, Lupane, Plumtree, Gwanda, Beitbridge, Bulawayo City, Njube, Tshabalala and Luveve and an application to claim compensation can be lodged at any of these Centres. Whilst we cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain compensation, as has happened in Mrs Sibanda’s case, we will try.

David Coltart

Director

Bulawayo Legal Projects Centre