Religion and reconciliation: the case of the Gukurahundi massacre in Zimbabwe
This work is situated in the field of religion and reconciliation studies, and it explores whether and how religious traditions can be mobilised to facilitate reconciliation with a special focus on apology and forgiveness after violent conflicts, and more specifically, the Gukurahundi massacre in Zimbabwe. It does this because, while academic scholarship focusing on the conflict acknowledges the shortcomings of previous efforts to address this problem, it has not considered whether and how religion (Christianity and African religion) might contribute to the conditions necessary for the achievement of reconciliation.
In this case, the study examines not only how this problem has been addressed, but also whether and how any process of reconciliation has been formulated and implemented. The study argues that the resentment in Matabeleland and parts of Midlands province cannot be healed in the absence of a heartfelt apology, coupled with expressions of empathy from the perpetrators of the Gukurahundi atrocities, as well as positive and genuine forgiveness by the offended.
The support of truth-telling is a precondition for both actions as one way to explore possibilities. If this process is actively and honestly worked through, then harmonious relationships and mutual understanding between both the conflicting parties and the affected communities (in particular, the Shona and the Ndebele communities) would be established, making a shared and interdependent future possible. As such, this would enable the Zimbabwean government, civil-society organisations (CSOs), and local communities to realise that the truth should be made known for apology and forgiveness to be possible.