What happened with Gukurahundi Sipho noted that what happened was that a few people who intended to destroy the only political institution that time is the most painful part. In his speech, Sipho narrated that he does not believe in injustice and that he expects that justice must be seen to be done. He mentioned that because of his beliefs he had defended someone who had killed 200 people in 30 minutes in East Timor. What was important was that the accused went through the process, witnesses came forward but he was still found guilty. He noted that he was available to defend anyone in Zimbabwe. Sipho noted that for now it was fortunate that no one had come forward to be tried in the courts as it left good chances for other options to achieve justice in Zimbabwe for Gukurahundi victims. He mentioned the following: Ÿ Prosecution Ÿ Truth processes Ÿ Apologies and forgiveness Ÿ Local customs and cultural norms (there is at times a stance that the family will sort it out) and this is at times is not easily understood by outsiders be it from Zimbabwe or abroad. Perpetrators must step forward for they left a horrible legacy of ethnic hatred Sipho noted that there are so many other possibilities but the truth of the matter is that the perpetrators must step forward. Sipho argued that there was no doubt that the perpetrators decided in 1981 to finish off ZAPU by removing the 20 reserved seats and in that process left a horrible legacy of ethnic hatred. Sipho contended that the people who committed Gukurahundi are known and should come forward. The process was never just about the Ndebeles alone He also noted that he believes the agenda was not to exterminate Ndebeles alone because there are clear examples of people from other tribes that were hounded by the Gukurahundi 20 perpetrators such as Nziramasanga. However, the unfortunate part is that the hatred sown has gone to a social level where for example even if football teams Highlander and Dynamos are playing in Barbourfields, Bulawayo you will hear Ndebeles saying “tshayi Shona”. Sipho lamented that the situation was never like that before. The ethnicization of politics into Karanga, Zezuru etc in Zimbabwe is what he lamented. Crimes and guilt cannot be collective Sipho noted that those who commit crimes must personalise and take ownership of their deeds and not try to collectivise their guilt. Sipho implored the participants in the meeting not to misdirect their anger lest it consumes them. The quest for Never Again Sipho noted that Zimbabwe must get to a point where as a people we say [These lines can never be crossed again]. He observed that Zimbabwe has continued to suffer from policies of impunity stretching from Ian Smith’s era into all the other epochs of violence in Zimbabwe. He noted that some of the amnesties had pardoned some of Zimbabwe's people who had raped and killed their own people and that could not be condoned. He gave examples of the murder of a white man by Edgar Tekere and his immediate pardon. Pain cannot go away unless addressed Sipho mentioned that victims generally hold on to their pain until their grievances have been addressed. He noted that the pain for the people in Matabeleland is never going to go away until addressed. He observed that it is more alive now than ever as the grievances pass from one generation to another. Sipho noted of a phenomenon that had struck him when one of his colleagues had mentioned that at least 68% of children in the Matopos area did not have birth certificates and thus could not access government services. 2018 TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE POLICY SYMPOSIUM REPORT