Survivors of Zimbabwe’s Gukurahundi massacre are demanding justice four decades after one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history. Joyce Nua, a victim whose arm and leg were brutally severed by soldiers in 1983, recalls the harrowing day when she was left for dead on railway tracks, a chilling reminder of the atrocities committed under the regime of then-leader Robert Mugabe. The military operation, euphemistically dubbed “Gukurahundi,” aimed to eliminate perceived political dissidents, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 20,000 people—many of whom remain unaccounted for.

The Fifth Brigade, trained by North Korean forces, unleashed a wave of terror, including rapes and killings, as they sought to quash opposition and instill fear in the newly independent nation. Despite the gravity of these crimes, no one has faced justice for the Gukurahundi atrocities. Current President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who served as security minister during the massacre, has called for public hearings to allow victims to share their stories. However, skepticism looms over the process, as many question the impartiality of a government led by individuals entwined in past violence.

Historians and survivors alike label the Gukurahundi a genocide, with Joyce Nua declaring that her physical scars are a constant reminder of the pain and suffering endured by thousands. As the nation grapples with its past, the call for accountability grows louder. The wounds of Gukurahundi remain fresh, and the cries for justice echo through the streets of Zimbabwe. Will the survivors finally see the reckoning they deserve, or will history repeat itself in silence? The world watches as Zimbabwe stands at a crossroads, facing the haunting legacy of its past.