In the light with the revelations in Davos, Switzerland via an interview hosted by BBC’s Mishal Hussain with President Mnangagwa it came to our knowledge that the president had signed the National Peace and Reconciliation Bill into law; and being highlighted in the interview about the law are issues with regards to the ‘emotive’ Gukurahundi.
I think it is apropos to mention that as from a psychological point of view that it is important that psychologists be engaged in the process of National Peace and Reconciliation so as to ameliorate perturbations that aroused and some which are still extant as a direct or indirect result of the Gukurahundi. Psychologists as behaviour specialists are professionally trained to facilitate the direction in which government, survivors and other Zimbabweans would want to take from the day to future in ensuring that incidents as such might not take place within the human kingdoms of Zimbabwe.
I take note in the current administration in setting the bill into law. The move legalises and allows openness in dealing with the issues, which people were cognisant that they occurred but could not speak out because of fear of reprisals from the government and other state actors. The appointment of one of the vice presidents Kembo Mohadi who has been for years parliamentary representative for people in Matebeleland, shows or rather indicates government’s willingness to allow people in Matebeleland to be involved and proffer solutions in issues which have and are affecting them. The fact that the organ is directly linked and directed from the office of the presidium indicates commitment of the government to quickly move and turn whatever they would have gathered during the process into policy. Involvement of the ministry of local government via chiefs or traditional leaders will allow for systemic support of the process and implementation of the policy which would probably result from its findings.
It is not yet clear how the program will ensue after the signing of the bill into an act. Notwithstanding such circumstance it is my view from a psychological point that the facilitation of the programme should involve psychologists. It is my appreciation that people of Matebeleland might be suffering from a multiply wounded phenomena as they were not only victims of Gukurahundi but with other fellow persons in this nation might have suffered from colonial rule, the liberation struggle, political violence in 2000-2002, 2008, displacement under the sheer madness called ‘Operation Murambatsvina’, perceived and or real institutionalised marginalisation, denial of constitutional rights such as devolution, living in drought prone areas among others vices. It is from this view of things that the people mainly in Matebeleland and beyond its borders may have psychological scars resulting from errors of commission or omission. Within this frame of things the psychologist or the discipline of psychology rather is more qualified to work in this field with the involvement of other players which government and persons mainly in Matebeleland may deem fit to work with.
Psychology as a discipline has with it tools to deal with trauma related issues and is on record been involved in dealing with issues of great catastrophe such as survivors of eugenics schemes, holocaust, Vietnam war veterans among other issues. Amongst the tools which psychologists have and are able to make use are projective tests which are closely linked to psychoanalytic works/research these tests can help in issues which seem to have been repressed and it is my appreciation that some issues which are likely to be dealt with are some over 30 years old. It is noteworthy that cases have been recorded were politicians when discussing these issues either at political gatherings have been assaulted by survivors or other persons touched by such issues, without commenting further such acts are eye opening that these issues are highly emotive which calls the need of professionally qualified behaviour specialists to be engaged.
The branches of psychology in Zimbabwe can help in facilitating desired aspirations and changes amongst survivors, government and Zimbabwe at large. Community psychologists can help to work with communities and in a proactive manner combat maladaptive acts which results in performance or occurrence of such atrocities. It also helps in influencing policy in government that in future Zimbabwe has sound anti-violence policies which protects people within its borders from political violence, victimisation, trauma among other vices. The Counselling psychologist can work with people from diverse multicultural settings to deal with life challenges imposed on them by Gukurahundi and provide for them safe emotional spaces that can allow them as individuals to move on adaptively in life and build resilience to any future challenges that may arise in future. Clinical psychologists can work with those driven into psychotic phases in life due to these issues, to regain functional levels and wean lives from psychotic episodes. Educational psychologists can also help those who have been affected as survivors or decedents in their learning so that they learn free from the ugly histories. In the same hope the Occupational psychologist can be of help to those in occupational settings so that they work not with the ever haunting dilemmas of their historical lives negatively affecting their work.
I pray that the works of psychologists in the National, Peace and Reconciliation law be recognised by engaging psychologists, and with such engagement aspirations of survivors, their families and other Zimbabweans can be realised. I also pray that in other highly emotive issues there be consultations and or strong engagement of behaviour specialists which are in this case psychologists.

Prosper K Mushauri
Registered Intern Counselling Psychologist
The paper represents my professional view as an intern psychologist and does not in any way present the view of the council in which am registered or seek to represent any other person/s or professionals within my field.